Ryan Yates claimed his third goal of the season against Barnsley
Nottingham Forest chalked up a fourth straight win as they cruised past the Championship's depleted bottom side Barnsley at the City Ground.
Keinan Davis robbed possession from a ponderous Mads Andersen and raced away to slot past Barnsley keeper Brad Collins.
Ryan Yates tapped in Brennan Johnson's cross after neat Forest build-up to make it 2-0 at the break.
A fine driving run from Djed Spence and pullback then teed up Johnson who stroked a finish across Collins and into the far corner to wrap up the win.
- Relive Tuesday's EFL action
Bottom side Barnsley, without a win in 10 league matches, reported just 12 players fit for training on Monday and made the trip to the East Midlands without head coach Poya Asbaghi because of illness.
And they were soon on the defensive as Forest defender Steve Cook headed just wide before Tykes captain Andersen gifted Aston Villa loanee Davis his first goal for Forest.
Callum Styles saw a first-time effort cleared off the line as the Tykes almost levelled, but it was firmly against the run of play.
James Garner skewed a shot just wide and Collins palmed a Yates header over the bar before the midfielder doubled the lead a moment later.
Forest were in cruise control after the break with Spence, a reported January target for Premier League clubs, impressing to set up Johnson's seventh goal of the season and then teeing up Xande Silva whose powerful strike smacked a post.
A sixth win in eight league matches lifts Forest within a point of the play-off places in seventh, while Barnsley remain eight points from safety after a 14th defeat in their last 18 league matches.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsNottm Forest
Formation 4-2-3-1
30Samba2Spence27S Cook26McKenna8Colback22Yates37Garner20Johnson11Zinckernagel7Grabban9Davis
- 30Samba2Spence27S Cook26McKenna8Colback22Yates37GarnerBooked at 52mins20JohnsonSubstituted forKonateat 82'minutes11Zinckernagel7GrabbanSubstituted forCosta Silvaat 78'minutes9DavisBooked at 61minsSubstituted forLoweat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Horvath3Figueiredo10Carvalho15Lowe18Ribeiro Dias19Costa Silva42Konate
Barnsley
Formation 4-2-3-1
40Collins15Moon30Helik6Andersen2Williams17Gomes21Palmer4Styles29Adeboyejo11Leya Iseka44Cole
- 40Collins15MoonSubstituted forVitaat 87'minutes30HelikBooked at 61mins6AndersenBooked at 12mins2Williams17Gomes21PalmerBooked at 7minsSubstituted forWolfeat 81'minutes4Styles29Adeboyejo11Leya IsekaSubstituted forBremangat 81'minutes44Cole
Substitutes
- 1Walton23Hondermarck26Vita32Sraha33Wolfe42Bremang46Thompson
Referee:Michael SalisburyAttendance:27,504Match StatsHome TeamNottm ForestAway TeamBarnsleyPossessionHome54%Away46%ShotsHome18Away9Shots on TargetHome6Away2CornersHome12Away0FoulsHome9Away15Live TextPost update
Match ends, Nottingham Forest 3, Barnsley 0.
90'+3'Full Time
Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 3, Barnsley 0.
90'+2'Post update
Attempt missed. Xande Silva (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by James Garner with a cross.
90'+1'Post update
James Garner (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+1'Post update
Foul by Michal Helik (Barnsley).
87'Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. Remy Vita replaces Jasper Moon.
86'Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Bradley Collins.
86'Post update
Attempt saved. Steve Cook (Nottingham Forest) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by James Garner with a cross.
86'Post update
Djed Spence (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the right wing.
86'Post update
Foul by Matthew Wolfe (Barnsley).
85'Post update
Attempt blocked. Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest) header from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Colback with a cross.
85'Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Mads Andersen.
83'Post update
Philip Zinckernagel (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83'Post update
Foul by Devante Cole (Barnsley).
83'Post update
Xande Silva (Nottingham Forest) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Djed Spence.
82'Post update
Attempt saved. Claudio Gomes (Barnsley) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Devante Cole.
82'Substitution
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Ateef Konate replaces Brennan Johnson.
81'Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. David Bremang replaces Aaron Leya Iseka.
81'Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. Matthew Wolfe replaces Romal Palmer.
79'Post update
Attempt blocked. Victor Adeboyejo (Barnsley) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Devante Cole.
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Source: bbc.com