Nigeria's Taiwo Awoniyi was the hero as Nottingham Forest got a vital victory over fellow relegation strugglers, Southampton in the English Premier League on Monday, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
He scored twice to help Forest climb out of the relegation zone with a hard-earned victory (4-3) over the Saints at the City Ground.
Danilo picked out Brennan with a sublime diagonal pass and his first-time cross was swept home by Awoniyi in the 18 minute of the game.
Danilo poked the ball through for the Super Eagles striker who rifled a volley beyond McCarthy for his second of the day three minutes after his first.
Alcaraz pulled one back for the visitors in the 25th minute, but a penalty for Forest in the 42nd minute after Brennan was fouled by Maitland-Niles was scored Morgan Gibbs-White (MGW) to make it 3-1.
Lyanco headed in from a corner for Southampton to reduce the deficit five minutes into the second half.
Soon the two goal lead was restored for the host as Johnson's cross was beautifully flicked on by MGW and Danilo made no mistake with a composed first-time finish.
The visitors got a penalty at the 90 minute mark to make it 4-3 through Ward-Prowse, but it was a little to late as the score ended the same way.
The win takes the Reds to 16th on the log as the relegation battle rages on with three matches to go.
By Uche Dozie