Report by Ben Davis

American billionaire Vince Wolanin was at Fratton Park with Brian Howe for this game and saw Steve Chettle score a decisive goal to leave Pompey stranded at the foot of division one. Pompey, for most of the match, did just as well as their opponents but created few chances against a tough Forest defence. After the match Wolanin and Howe went for talks with Martin Gregory, who was also at the game.
David Hillier returned to the starting line up in place of Igoe who had a poor game against Sheffield United. He moved down to the bench alongside John Aloisi and Aaron Flahavan who was in because Knight had been suffering from flu. The players came out to a large tickertape reception by an equally large crowd of 15,000.
Forest started menacingly and had the ball in the net after 6 minutes when from Damien Johnson's pass Campbell nudged it past the on rushing Knight but the flag had already gone up for offside against the striker. Claridge was again making a nuisance of himself and it needed a quick interception by Chettle to stop his pass to Durnin in the area.
On 13 minutes Forest's Thierry Bonalair was the first player to be booked for elbowing Pethick as the pair went up for a header. New Greek signing Michalis Vlachos, who played well against Sheffield United, was doing exceptionally well at left back where nothing got past him. Pompey player of the month John Durnin went close to putting Pompey ahead in the 17th minute as he picked up a return pass from McLoughlin 25-yards out. He worked some room before curling a left-footed shot inches past Beasant's right-hand post.
Forest's deadly striker Pierre Van Hooijdonk began to pose a threat and from a Thomas cross he rose highest at the far post where Knight did well to firmly hold onto his header. The first corner of the game was won by Pompey as Pethick's cross, from a brilliant pass by Hillier, was put behind by Rogers. McLoughlin's cross was hit in hard but had little accuracy and Forest easily cleared.
In the 27th minute Pompey felt they should have a penalty when from Durnin's fine pass Pethick was brought down by Rogers in the area. Referee Mr Wilkes waved away the protests as Pethick stormed over to the linesman to make his feelings felt. It was a brave decision by the linesman who was on the same side of the pitch where Edward Martin was attacked last week.
Van Hooijdonk drove a 30-yarder over into the Fratton End before Durnin and Claridge worked together to win another corner which Vlachos couldn't meet at the far post. Sadly trouble sparked up again in the South Stand towards the Mitlon End where police were called in to calm things down.
Beasant had to be sharp in the 37th minute when from Foster's good through ball Durnin spun his man and fired in a low shot which the keeper got down to gather. At the other end a dangers free-kick by Thomas looped up into the air off a defender before Knight did well to punch it away to safety.
Carter instigated the counter attack as to skipped past Bonalair before chipping a cross to the far post where Lyttle headed it behind under pressure from Durnin. That came to nothing and back up the other end there was de-ja vu as Rogers's high looping cross swirled towards the far post, just like the one Knight carried into his own net against Sheffield United. This time the keeper made a safe clean catch.
Not surprisingly Dave Beasant got a Fratton End full of abuse as he came out for the second half. It was Forest though who came out the more attacking with Andy Jonhson flashing a good effort from the edge of the area just over. Seconds later they were at Pompey again this time with Campbell who from Lyttle's pass drove in a shot which Knight saved well with his legs.
Then on 51 minutes Forest's early pressure was rewarded as they took the lead. Thomas swung in a vicious corner which Van Hooijdonk flicked on and Chettle got a foot on it to turn it in. The crowd immediately got behind the home side and Pompey might have equalised shortly afterwards. McLoughlin received possession on the edge of the area and managed to evade two challenges before firing a shot over Beasant's bar.
There was a clear sight of Pompey's confidence dropping with Forest pressing forward in search of a clinching second goal. They went close when Campbell held up the ball well before laying it off to Van Hooijdonk whose side-footed shot flew just past Knight's left-hand post, although it looked as though he had it covered. Pompey could have gone further behind when a Van Hooijdonk special from a 20-yard free-kick crashed into the side netting with Knight struggling to get across had it been on target.
Alan Ball then made a double change in the 62nd minute with Aloisi and Igoe coming on for Durnin and Hillier. The change though did little to change the pattern of play with Forest still pressing forward. Carter though managed to get in a shot after a clever run and Beasant got down to save.
Aloisi was then in the right place at the right time at the wrong end when from Bonalair's corner Thomas got in a header which the striker cleared off the line with his chest. Knight came to Pompey's rescue again when Bonalair slipped Rogers into the area and the keeper spread himself well to block the shot.
The last real chance fell to Aloisi when he managed to get behind the Forest defence to latch onto a high ball from Foster. The ball ran forward too much and Aloisi's shot from a tight angle ran across the face of Beasant's goal with no Pompey player in sight to tap in what would have been a certain goal.