NOTTINGHAM Forest climbed out of the bottom three after claiming a vital, hard fought win over relegation rivals Coventry City at the City Ground.

Goals from Garath McCleary and Robbie Findley secured a 2-0 victory to give Steve Cotterill's side a significant boost in their fight for survival.

With Portsmouth having had ten points deducted for going into administration this morning – and then having lost at Barnsley this afternoon – Forest climbed above both them and Coventry.

Forest had struggled amid a truly dour first half, in which neither side managed to carve out a chance of real note.

But they were much improved after the break and another well taken solo effort from the in form McCleary finally gave Forest the lead in the 75th minute, before Findley made sure with a second late on.

There was a cagey start to the game, amid extremely blustery conditions at the City Ground.

Joe Murphy was the first keeper to be tested, as Andy Reid fizzed an in-swinging corner to the far post, where the Coventry man claimed well, under heavy pressure from Luke Chambers.

But chances were few and far between, with a long-range shot from Alex Nimely, which flashed just wide of the post, the only real effort on goal of note in the opening ten minutes.

Forest's first effort did not come until the 14th minute when, having spotted Murphy off his line, McCleary sent a wild drive high over the bar and into the Coventry fans behind the goal.

Marcus Tudgay's hard working attitude almost helped him to close down Murphy, as he lingered in possession, but the keeper just managed to squeeze a pass beyond the advancing striker.

And Tudgay then had Murphy at full stretch, plunging to his right, with a powerful low shot that flew only inches wide of the post.

The striker was the one player who looked like he might make something happen for Forest, amid a dour first half hour, as he again let fly with a shot from 20-yards, which this time flew far wider of the target.

McCleary almost made the breakthrough with a fine solo effort, cutting in from the left to strike a right foot shot that took a slight deflection to steer it just the wrong side of the post.

But it had generally been a dour, uninspiring first half and it was no surprise when Cotterill made a double change at the interval, in an attempt to inject some life into his side.

Robbie Findley and Dexter Blackstock were introduced, for Wootton and Tudgay – and Blackstock almost made an impact within two minutes, hitting the post with a header after out jumping Murphy to reach a high ball.

While, when Gunter broke the offside trap down the right, he was denied by a fine save from Murphy, who slid in at his feet, as Forest built some momentum for the first time.

Gary Deegan struck a spectacular 25-yard volley that had the Coventry fans on their feet as it zipped a foot wide of the upright.

At the other end, a Reid free-kick delivery gave George Elokobi a good headed chance, but the on-loan Wolves man guided his effort over the bar.

Finally, the game was springing into life and Nimely saw a side-footed shot cleared off the line amid a melee of players, as Coventry looked to make the breakthrough.

McSheffrey bent a free-kick narrowly around the angle of post and bar, from just outside the area, as the game hung in the balance.

When McCleary turned brilliantly on the right side of the box, it gave him the room to fire a ball dangerously across the face of goal, where Reid prodded a shot that seemed destined for the net, until Murphy intervened with a truly outstanding save, stretching out an arm when it seemed the ball was already beyond him.

Findley did well to dance between two players and burst into the box, but then went down rather easily in the search for a penalty.

The moment seemed to lift Forest however and, with their next attack, they went ahead, with a fine individual effort from McCleary.

The winger cut in from the right side and surged into the penalty area, before stroking a precise finish beyond the advancing keeper and into the bottom corner.

It proved to be the winger's last contribution to the game however, as he was replaced by Jonathan Greening shortly after, as he appeared to be carrying a slight injury.

And, with Forest having made all three substitutes, they will have been concerned to see Guedioura rolling around in obvious pain, following a fairly innocuous challenge just outside the Forest area.

The midfielder was able to continue, but he was clearly in some discomfort.

Greening won the approval of the Forest crowd with a crunching challenge on Coventry sub David Bell, which saw him win the ball cleanly.

But it was Findley who made himself the real hero, as he kept his composure to fire home the all important second goal.

An outstanding ball from Reid, from wide on the right, picked out the American's run through the centre and he controlled the ball well on his chest before slipping the ball beyond Murphy.