Nottingham Forest finish the afternoon in second place after a convincing win over promotion rivals Leyton Orient.
It was a quiet start from Forest with Leyton Orient defending in numbers. But the home side kept pushing forward and were rewarded with a goal on the half hour. The goal changed the game completely with Forest looking threatening up to the half time whistle.
Forest dominated much of the second half and two more goals made it an uphill battle for Orient. Forest put the final nail in the coffin with a late goal by substitute Matt Thornhill, his first senior goal for the club.
Leyton Orient had the first chance of the game when they were awarded a free kick for a foul by Sammy Clingan on Paul Terry. Sean Thornton's effort from 28 yards out curled over the wall and Paul Smith had to rise high to tip the ball over for the first corner of the game.
Forest made a number of efforts to get forward down both wings but Orient frustrated their efforts to get the ball in front of goal.
A good save from Smith stopped Andy Barcham from getting the ball in from close range.
And Orient came closer still when Sean Thornton's shot from 30 yards came crashing off the post and was put out for their fifth corner of the game.
It was 28 minutes before Forest had a shot on target. After a good build-up KrisCommons crossed from the left towards Grant Holt who managed a diving header towards goal but Stuart Nelson also made a dive, to his right, to make the save.
But two minutes later Forest found the target from a short corner taken by Arron Davies. It was a perfectly delivered cross from Commons to Holt who got in front of an Orient defender and headed in from the back post.
A minute from half time, Davies produced some good football following a nice chip forward from Lewis McGugan. Davies controlled the ball on his chest and got the volley in from the edge of the 6-yard box but Nelson did well to block the ball.
Smith had to make a save in the opening minute of the second half when Wayne Gray got through one-on-one with the Forest keeper who blocked the shot with his legs.
And Orient came close again less than a minute later when Andy Barcham tried to get through on goal, but Ian Breckin and Matt Lockwood managed to block him, enabling Smith to dive onto the ball.
Forest were awarded a penalty in the 51st minute when Holt, who was racing onto a through ball by Davies, was brought down by Nelson as he came out to stop the Forest player. To the annoyance of the home crowd the Orient keeper was only shown a yellow card.
Holt stepped up to take the penalty and sent it past Nelson and low into the corner of the net for his second of the afternoon.
Orient made a double substitution to try and get back into the game but it was Davies who came close to making it three for Forest when he ran through onto Holt's ball but he sent the ball flying inches over the bar from just inside the box.
But it was Commons who got on the scoresheet when he made a run down the right to get on the end of Breckin's ball. He struck the ball so quickly that Nelson didn't have time to move and could only watch as the ball went in off the far post.
Davies received a standing ovation for his performance when he was substituted soon after, replaced by Emile Sinclair.
As Orient tried to get a goal back Smith made another good save as he blocked a close-range shot by Barcham. He had an easier save to make when Thornton tried his luck from 30 yards.
With Forest's lead looking comfortable Matt Thornhill was also given a chance, coming on for Cohen with ten minutes to go and soon after that Luke Chambers replaced James Perch.
Forest came close to a fourth when Commons picked up the ball from Clingan, made a good run down the left and fired in a cross which ran across the face of goal. But the ball evaded both Sinclair and Holt and ran out for a goal kick.
And with two minutes remaining two youngsters combined to get a fourth goal. Sinclair squared the ball to Thornhill who, with his second touch on the ball, sent it bobbling into the corner of the net.
Nottingham Forest: Paul Smith, James Perch(Luke Chambers81min), Wes Morgan, Ian Breckin(C), Matt Lockwood, Lewis McGugan, Sammy Clingan, Chris Cohen(Matt Thornhill79min), Arron Davies(Emile Sinclair73min), Kris Commons, Grant Holt
Subs not used:Neil Lennon, Julian Bennett
Scorer: Holt 31min, 53min pen.Commons 72min, Thornhill 89min
Leyton Orient: Stuart Nelson, Stephen Purches (C), Tamika Mkandawire, Brian Saah, Adam Chambers, Wayne Gray(Efe Echanomi 59min), Sean Thornton, Wayne Corden(Jason Demetriou 59min), Andy Barcham, Paul Terry(John Melligan 76min), Aiden Palmer
Subs not used: Charlie Daniels, Sam Oji,
Referee: I G Williamson
Attendance: 17,805 away attn: 1,334
