Cherries made one change to the midweek defeat at Huddersfield with Max Gradel returning to the starting XI in place of the injured Neil Young.

Cherries: Stewart, Gowling, Perrett, Cooper, Cummings, Bartley, Hollands, Bradbury, Gradel, Vokes (Pitman 78), Kuffour.
Subs: Pryce, Pearce, Partington, Tessem.

Forest: Smith, Wilson, Chambers (Breckin 86), Morgan, Perch, Tyson, Holt (Sinclair 63), Davies, Cohen, Clingan, Bennett.
Subs: Lockwood, Thornhill, Richarson.

Att: 7,251

Forest's main threat was evident from the early stages as the pace of Nathan Tyson set up an early chance for the former Wycombe and Reading front man.

At the other end a flighted free kick from Gradel was narrowly missed by Gowling with the goal gaping. Half chances for Kuffour and Cohen followed with Perrett making a brave block to deny the latter.

Cherries controlled the majority of the opening exchanges and could have taken the lead when Max Gradel's free kick was headed towards goal by Sam Vokes. Paul Smith in the Forest goal reacted well to punch over the bar.

In the twentieth minute the pressure paid off. Max Gradel was again the architect with a welcoming cross that Sam Vokes was determined to meet. A powerful downward header gave Smith no chance and gave Cherries the lead.

Ten minutes later it was 2-0 and Vokes doubled his tally for the afternoon. In a swift forward move Jo Kuffour spotted Sam's run and he held off his marker before arrowing a low drive across goal.

Cherries continued to attack and a surging run from Marvin Bartley nearly created another scoring chance. The next opportunity fell Gradel's way and the path to goal opened up for him; unfortunately he couldn't believe his luck and the final shot flew over the bar.

A reckless challenge on Warren Cummings by Grant Holt earned the first booking of the game and gave Max Gradel another chance to test the Forest defence with his crossing. This time Luke Chambers cleared the ball for the visitors, but the home side were first to every ball and prevented a counter attack as the interval drew close.

Half time: AFC Bournemouth 2-0 Nottingham Forest

Forest started better in the second half, but it was the Cherries who carved out the first chance. Warren Cummings brought the ball forward on the left and Max Gradel skipped past one player before shooting wide of the near post.

From a penalty appeal at one end Chris Cohen ran the length of the pitch to open up the Cherries. Max Gradel had the pace to latch onto his cross and claw it away from the line. Determined defending from the corner ensured the score remained 2-0.

Cherries were trying to hold the ball as much as possible in the opposition half and the front six did a good job in easing the pressure on the defence.

Forest were looking more lively in the middle, but struggled to find anything up front to test keeper Gareth Stewart. When moving the ball quickly, Forest used the space well and a promising move came to nothing with a poor first touch from Tyson. The striker was then forced to play the ball backwards and Cohen ballooned over the bar.

On seventy-two minutes the game was nearly made safe as Bradbury and Vokes combined to assist Bartley. The midfielder ran unchallenged into the box to head the ball goalwards, but Smith was able to pluck the ball from the air.

Instead of hammering the ball clear Marvin Bartley held possession when another Forest attack broke down with fifteen minutes remaining. His composure eventually led to another scoring chance for the former non-league player. Cherries won a corner and as the ball bounced loose his shot on the turn was blocked by a Forest defender.

An impetuous foul by captain Kelvin Wilson summed up the frustration of the visitors and Forest support as Gareth Stewart continued to enjoy a trouble free half. Three free kick with five minutes remaining gave Cherries another chance to spend a period of time in the opposing half.

Cherries saw out what was in the end a comfortable victory and made it five games unbeaten out of six against Forest since their relegation from the Championship.

Final Score: AFC Bournemouth 2-0 Nottingham Forest