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6 April, 1977

Win over Bolton boosts promotion run

On this day in 1977 Forest beat Bolton Wanderers in the promotion run-in.

Club milestones

Historic promotion or relegation that reshapes the club’s trajectory

Nottingham Forest took a major step in their promotion chase by beating Bolton Wanderers 3-1 at the City Ground.

Bolton were direct rivals in the Division Two run-in, which gave the match a sharp competitive edge. Martin O’Neill gave Forest the breakthrough just before half-time, and Peter Withe doubled the lead early in the second half, turning a tense fixture into one Forest could begin to control.

Bolton pulled one back through Paul Jones, but Forest answered late. Ian Bowyer scored in the 82nd minute, restoring the cushion and making sure the afternoon finished as a powerful result rather than a nervous escape.

The timing made the win especially important. Forest were trying to force their way back into the First Division, and a home victory over one of the sides chasing the same prize helped strengthen belief at a crucial point.

For supporters, this was the kind of result that made promotion feel possible rather than hopeful. It did not settle the race by itself, but it gave Forest a powerful result when pressure was beginning to tighten.

Sources

11v11; FootballSite; Football League records

Forest timeline

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Notts County 0–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 3–0 Blackburn
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Vitória SC 1–1 Nottingham Forest
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Portimonense 1–2 Nottingham Forest Sporting CP 4–1 Nottingham Forest
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Udinese 1–0 Nottingham Forest Barcelona 1–0 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 2–1 Bayer Leverkusen
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Nottingham Forest 2–0 Stade Brestois 29
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Leeds
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Nottingham Forest 0–2 Leeds
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Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–0 Tottenham
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Aston Villa 1–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Coventry
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Crystal Palace 14:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 16:30 Arsenal
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Ipswich 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Brentford 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 17:30 Manchester City
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Bournemouth 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Chelsea
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Hull City 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brighton
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Sunderland 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Everton
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Manchester United 16:30 Nottingham Forest
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Newcastle 19:30 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Fulham
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Nottingham Forest 19:30 Hull City
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Manchester City 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Bournemouth
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Chelsea 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brentford
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Fulham 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Manchester United
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Everton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Newcastle
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Tottenham 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Aston Villa
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Leeds 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Liverpool
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Sunderland
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Brighton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Crystal Palace
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Arsenal 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Ipswich
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Coventry 16:00 Nottingham Forest
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On this day in …
1977
Win over Bolton boosts promotion run

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