Newcastle 2 - 0 Nottingham Forest: Newcastle on brink of promotion

Nottingham Forest put up a spirited challenge and Nathan Tyson should have scored but scuffed his header at the restart. Then Ameobi, who replaced the injured Andy Carroll four minutes after the break, blasted home a 71st-minute drive, and Jose Enrique's first goal for the club in injury time all but killed off Nottingham Forest's hopes of automatic promotion.

Victory at Peterborough on Saturday would be enough to secure promotion for Newcastle, who are unbeaten at home this season, if third-placed Forest, who have now lost their last eight away games, extended that to nine at Bristol City.

The Magpies are 13 points ahead of Billy Davies's men having played a game fewer. It was Ameobi's first appearance since 9 February and his first goal since Boxing Day, but it was arguably the most important of his nine for the season to date.

Newcastle: Harper, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Jose Enrique, Routledge, Guthrie, Nolan, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands (Barton 90), Carroll (Ameobi 48). Subs not used: Krul, Ryan Taylor, Best, Butt, Kadar. Booked: Jose Enrique.

Nottm Forest: Camp, Perch, Wilson, Morgan, Gunter, Anderson, Moussi, Cohen, Tyson (McCleary 69), Majewski (Earnshaw 72), Blackstock (McGoldrick 77). Subs not used: Smith, Chambers, McGugan, Adebola. Booked: Morgan, Wilson, McCleary.

Att: 45,987 Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).