Two second-half goals gave Forest a deserved victory at home to Tranmere Rovers.

Strikes from Junior Agogo and Nathan Tyson, coupled with a third successive home clean sheet, saw Forest take the three points.

Tranmere started brightly and Paul Smith was called into action as early as the second minute, palming away Gareth Taylor's header from Paul McLaren's left wing corner.

Lewis McGugan did his best to open the deadlock minutes later, showing excellent close control as he tried to dribble past several defenders in the area, but he was crowded out before he could get his shot away.

Sammy Clingan was booked for a late challenge on Anthony Kay in his efforts to win the ball back as the move broke down.

There were loud shouts for a penalty from the Forest fans as Chris Cohen appeared to be pulled down by Kay as he tried to get on the end of a Kris Commons cross.

Tranmere pressed again and when Steve Jennings's shot was blocked, Kelvin Wilson had to be alive to stop Taylor from reaching the loose ball.

And there were more appeals for a penalty when Ian Breckin appeared to be held down as he tried to get on the end of Cohen's corner.

Former Forest striker Taylor found himself in the referee's notebook for a foul on Breckin, having been spoken to by the referee minutes earlier for a similar offence.

Forest came close to breaking the deadlock after 37 minutes. Commons's cross reached Arron Davies, via Agogo. Davies showed great skill to flick the ball over a defender's head before volleying goalwards, where Danny Coyne pulled off a good save to tip the ball over.

McGugan was then booked for a late challenge on McLaren as the first-half ended goalless.

But Forest had the lead within five minutes of the restart. Julian Bennett's cross bounced up and struck Shane Sherriff on the hand and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Agogo stepped up and coolly sent the ball low into Coyne's left-hand corner, as the keeper went right.

Nathan Tyson replaced Commons on the hour mark and almost immediately had an impact, drawing a foul from McLaren, which earned the Tranmere player a yellow card.

Smith was called into action again after 66 minutes, punching clear Sherriff's deep, hanging cross from under his own crossbar The ball fell to Taylor but he could only shoot high and wide.

Smith then had be alert to turn Kay's fizzing cross-shot over the crossbar.

From the corner, Forest broke with pace. Luke Chambers found Agogo, who in turn found Tyson, but his shot was superbly blocked by the covering Robbie Stockdale.

But Tyson was not to be denied a goal and on 77 minutes he made it 2-0. Bennett's left wing cross picked out the unmarked Tyson and he crashed the ball in off the crossbar on the volley.

Forest threatened more goals as they continued to break with speed and Davies was denied by a good stop by Coyne. Cohen's cross was headed away from Tyson as he shaped to volley, but it fell to Davies who sent a low shot goalwards which was well turned away by Coyne.

Tyson then sent the ball fizzing across goal, but just too far ahead of the onrushing Forest trio of Cohen, Agogo and Davies,

There was still time for Tranmere to have one more chance, Smith tipping Sherriff's powerful header onto the post, but Forest held on for the three points.

Forest: Smith, Chambers, Wilson, Breckin (C), Bennett, Clingan, McGugan, Cohen, Davies (Morgan 85 mins), Agogo, Commons (Tyson 59 mins).
Subs not used: Sinclair, Thornhill, Roberts.
Booked: Clingan (7 mins, foul), McGugan (40 mins, foul)
Scorer: Agogo (49 mins, penalty), Tyson (77 mins)

Tranmere: Coyne, Stockdale, McLaren, Sherriff, Kay, Taylor, Greenacre, Jennings (Ahmed 63 mins), Chorley, Goodison (C), Cooper (Curran 63 mins).
Subs not used: Achterberg, Tremarco, Jones.
Booked: Taylor (35 mins, foul), McLaren (60 mins, foul)

Referee: Mike Thorpe.

Attendance: 16,825 (1,025 visitors)