Nottingham Forest striker Marlon Harewood hit a double to keep his side's promotion hopes on course and damage the play-off ambitions of Ipswich in a seven-goal thriller.

Marcus Bent looked to have earned Town a point after the hosts had relinquished a two-goal lead, but Harewood struck his second of the game to clinch the points for Forest.

Ipswich took a deserved 14th-minute lead when Pablo Counago had two shots on goal before the ball fell into the path of Tommy Miller, who made no mistake from eight yards to claim his ninth goal of the season.

Worse was to follow for Forest as Andy Reid brought down Counago in the area and the referee awarded a spot-kick.

Miller's strike was saved, but Forest keeper Darren Ward was adjudged to have moved before the ball was struck and Miller gratefully accepted a second chance from the spot.

Seconds substitute John Thompson, on for the injured Riccardo Scimeca, tried a speculative effort from distance and his shot nestled in the back of the net.

And Forest's speedy comeback was completed two minutes later when Harewood latched on to a long ball and his shot completely deceived Andy Marshall to bring the scores level.

Ipswich were rocked again after 33 minutes when defender Richard Naylor deflected Thompson's cross past his own goalkeeper to put Forest in front.

The two sides kept up a relentless pace in the second half and Town levelled the scores on the hour.

Forest defender Michael Dawson failed to cut out Jim Magilton's deep cross and Bent capitalised by firing past Ward with his left foot.

The visitors spurned the chance to regain the lead minutes later as top scorer David Johnson was denied by Marshall when clear on goal, but Harewood secured a crucial win 15 minutes from time when he headed home Reid's free-kick for his 21st goal of the season.

Magilton had a couple of chances in the closing stages to earn a point and Jermaine Wright volleyed straight at Ward in stoppage-time.

BBC