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Wes Hoolahan celebrates after scoring a penalty for Norwich City

Norwich City stormed to an impressive three points against Nottingham Forest which kept alive their Championship automatic promotion hopes.

The hosts were ahead on the stroke of half time when Wes Hoolahan found Jonny Howson, who fired past Karl Darlow.

Cameron Jerome doubled the Canaries' lead when he found space to backheel Martin Olsson's delivery into the net.

Hoolahan made it 3-0 from the spot after Olsson was felled by Chris Burke, who found Forest's consolation.

The result saw the Canaries bounce back after two points from their last two matches, whilst Forest lost their first in four.

Forest missed an opportunity to take an early lead when Eric Lichaj broke into the Norwich box but Russell Martin cleared the danger.

The Canaries' recent record against Forest Norwich have won only one of the last four meetings between the two sides, when they won 2-1 at Carrow Road in the Championship in April 2011.

The Canaries could have broken the deadlock through Bradley Johnson, but he nodded Howson's cross well wide.

Jerome found space at the back post to latch onto Howson's delivery but he poked the ball over the crossbar.

Forest's best chance in a lively first half came when substitute Burke threaded a pass to Michail Antonio, who was denied by John Ruddy.

Darlow kept the scores level after he pulled off an excellent save to deny Howson's powerful long-range drive.

But Howson was rewarded minutes later when he linked up with Hoolahan to fire home on his 100th City appearance.

Jerome then showed why he is Norwich's leading scorer after the break when he cheekily backheeled Olsson's cross past Darlow.

It was a tough afternoon for Forest who seemed overwhelmed by Norwich's dominant attacking intent.

The hosts got a third after Olsson was cynically felled by Burke and Hoolahan sent Darlow the wrong way from the spot.

Jerome saw his impressive effort disallowed for offside after some smart link-up play with Steven Whittaker.

Burke redeemed himself when he tapped home from close range after Ruddy parried Gary Gardner's shot.

Nottingham Forest now lie nine points off the Championship play-off places with seven games left to play this season.

Norwich City manager Alex Neil:

"That's certainly up there with the best performances since I have been here.

"We were up against probably the form side in the Championship, who had only lost one out of 10 before today, so I believe, and the way we dominated the match was extremely pleasing.

"I thought our movement and quality on the ball were top class and we could have a lot more than three goals with the chances we created and the crosses we got into their box."

Nottingham Forest boss Dougie Freedman:

"There's no way we are going to stop fighting for a top-six finish, even though it will be tough. As manager of Nottingham Forest I would expect nothing less from the players.

"We will continue to show spirit and commitment for the rest of the season and battle hard for every point and we'll be going all out to win our next two games against Wolves and Brentford.

"If we can take six points from those, who knows what might happen?"

Nottingham Forest's Gary Gardner and Norwich City's Wes Hoolahan tussle for the ball

Norwich City's Jonny Howson celebrates breaking the deadlock

Michail Antonio shoots for Nottingham Forest