Former Norwich City striker Rob Earnshaw came off the bench to seal a vital win for Nottingham Forest at Carrow Road. Earnshaw's late goal came after Matt Thornhill had smashed in from the edge of the area and Lewis McGugan had scored a fine solo goal to seal all three points for Forest, despite the visitors scoring two own goals.

Nottingham Forest visit Carrow Road tomorrow (3pm) without a manager after boss Colin Calderwood was sacked following the dismal 4-2 home defeat by Doncaster.

First team coach David Kerslake has also left the club.

Doncaster, who started Boxing Day bottom of the Championship, raced into a 3-0 lead by half-time at the City Ground thanks to goals from Paul Heffernan, Martin Woods and Richard Wellens.

Heffernan's second gave Rovers a four-goal lead before Forest reduced the arrears through Joe Garner and a Sam Hird own goal.

Forest chief executive Mark Arthur said: “We're grateful to Colin for his efforts over the last 2½ years, in particular for leading us to promotion from League One.

“But we're in a results business and it's imperative that the club stays in the Championship. We need to give ourselves every opportunity to do that.”

Calderwood had earlier remarked: “It was probably our worst performance of the season. It was a real bad day.

“It was a poor performance. We were poor with the ball and hopeless without it.”

Calderwood was appointed as Forest boss in the summer of 2006 after winning promotion from League Two with Northampton Town the previous season.