Hamza Bencherif was Nottingham Forest's match-winner as they got back on a winning track against Walsall at Tamworth.

He scored the only goal of the game after 55 minutes and it rewarded his impressive all-round contribution after being switched into a midfield role for the first time.

Bencherif almost scored in the first half with a superb strike on the half volley that forced the Walsall keeper into a fine save.

But he made no mistake when starting and finishing the move that brought the goal. He set Arron Davies off on a run and when the Welshmen crossed, Bencherif had made ground into the box to score with a left foot shot.

Ryan Whitehurst and Davies, who played the full 90 minutes, also went close to scoring as Forest recovered from successive defeats at the hands of Shrewsbury and Mansfield.

Said coach John Pemberton: "Conditions were difficult because the match was played on a rock hard pitch that made it difficult to get the ball down and play a passing game.

"But we adapted well, defended a lot better than we have been doing and were well worth the win.

"It could have turned out to be a more comfortable victory than it was but after our two recent disappointments it was good to turn in a solid performance and get the right result."

Forest: Gamble, Tait, Heath, Bencherif, Mitchell, Sharpe, Davies, Hook, Newbold (Hopkinson), Whitehurst (Moke), Reid.
Subs not used: Rodney, Darlow, Diagne.

Walsall: Belshaw, Wood, Adkins, Westlake, Partridge, R. Davies, Lowe, Geddes, Craddock, Grigg, McCourt.
Subs: Cooney, Hickman, Travis, Overfield, Howes.