Nottingham Forest made up some ground against table-topping Scunthorpe with a convincing win against relegation strugglers Cheltenham.
Forest dominated the game from the start and Cheltenham didn't have a single shot on target in the first half. It took just over half an hour for Forest to take the lead with Gary Holt's first League goal for the club.
A second goal early in the second half eased the pressure and Forest always looked like getting more. But the third didn't come until late in stoppage time when substitute Nathan Tyson scored from the penalty spot.
There were calls from the crowd for an early penalty when Jack Lester got away and made a good run but was blocked inside the box by former Forest player Craig Armstrong. Lester went down under the challenge but it was a fair one and the referee waved play on.
Forest had a great chance when Lester got away from Armstrong down the right. His shot was blocked and the ball came out to Kris Commons whose effort bounced off the far post. Lewis McGugan then had a shot but his effort from the edge of the 6-yard box went over.
Lester thought he had won a penalty when Townsend pulled him back but the referee judged it to be outside the box and awarded a free kick just outside the D on the right. McGugan tried to repeat his goal of the previous Saturday but the ball took a deflection and it went over the bar.
Forest continued to pressurize the Cheltenham defence and their hard work finally paid off with a goal in the 33rd minute. Gary Holt made a great run and slipped the ball to Lester before continuing his run. Lester fed the ball back to Holt who side-footed home from 8 yards out for his fist of the season.
Cheltenham came close to a stoppage time equalizer when Denes Rosa was allowed to get away and fired a shot just inches over the crossbar.
It was a lively start to the second half as Forest looked to extend their lead.
There were loud cries of hand ball from the Trent End when Commons' shot appeared to hit an arm in a crowded box but there was no chance of the Cheltenham defender getting out the way and the referee waved play on.
Forest relieved the pressure andincreased their lead 12 minutes into the half. Grant Holt's cross from the left went past McGugan and found Perch as he arrived on the back post to head home.
Breckin came close to making it three when, from Commons' corner, he ran on to the far post and flicked a header towards goal, but Shane Higgs was able to dive to his left and make the save.
Forest continued to create chances and Grant Holt made a good run down the left to get a cross in. McGugan ran in on the right but the ball went through to Perch who slid in to get a foot on the ball, but it was deflected wide.
Good work by Alan Wright and Commons down the left created a chance for Grant Holt who dived in to meet the cross but he couldn't quite make contact.
A double substitution saw Grant Holt replaced by Nathan Tyson and Scott Dobie come on for McGugan. The youngster received a standing ovation from the crowd for his superb performance.
Cheltenhamhad a rare spell of possession and John Melligan had a chance to get one back but his shot from the right was just wide.
Forest were quickly back on the attack and Luke Chambers crossed the ball in to Tyson, who turned and shot on target, forcing Higgs to dive quickly to his right to make the save.
The away side had two more attempts but substitute Kayode Odejayi's effort was off target and then David Bird had a shot straight at Paul Smith, who made a rare save.
Nathan Tyson made a blistering run down the left, beat his man and put in a cross but Higgs was able to get his hands on it to prevent a stoppage time goal.
But then Forest were awarded a penalty when Shane Duff put in a late challenge on Chambers.
Nathan Tyson grabbed the ball quickly, determined to get on the scoresheet and sent the ball low into the corner before running to celebrate with the Trent End. The final whistle went seconds later.
Nottingham Forest: Smith, Curtis, Breckin, Chambers, Wright, Perch, McGugan(Dobie 76min), Gary Holt, Commons(Henry 87min), Lester, Grant Holt(Tyson 76min)
Subs not used: Pedersen, Bencherif,
Bookings: Breckin 11min, Perch 60min
Scorers: Gary Holt 33min, Perch 60min, Tyson 90min pen
Cheltenham Town: Higgs, Gill(Caines 72min), Duff, Finnigan (C), Bird, Townsend, Armstrong, Melligan, Gillespie, Connor(Odejayi 59min), Rosa(Spencer 67min)
Subs not used: Brown, Wylde
Bookings: Townsend 23min, Finnigan 89min
Referee: P W Melin
Attendance: 22,640 Away attn: 1,083
