Nottingham Forest 3 Ipswich 0: Britt Assombalonga double enough for Forest to escape relegation and send Blackburn to League One
Blackburn beat Brentford but Forest win at the City ground kept Mark Warburton's men in the Championship on goal difference
BRITT ASSOMBALONGA was the Nottingham Forest hero with a comprehensive win over Ipswich, a win that sent Blackburn down to Championship.
After a season of turmoil on and off the pitch, the former European champions were in danger of going down to the third tier of English football for the first time in nine years.
A double from Assombalonga and a deflected strike from Chris Cohen settled any final day nerves.
The striker converted his first from the penalty spot, after Ipswich keeper Bartosz Bialkowski clattered Jamie Ward in the box.
Cohen made the game safe in the second half with a deflected long range shot.
And as Blackburn pressed for the goals they needed to stay up, Assombalonga had time to miss a penalty before grabbing his second after a great strike into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
It means Forest head into the summer on the cusp of a new era still in the Championship as Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis works on a deal to buy the club from Fawaz Al Hasawi.
The City Ground crowd were buoyed and full of optimism as they roared on their team.
However, Ipswich threatened for the first time after eight minutes, with Grant Ward bringing a good save from Jordan Smith.
If Forest manager Mark Warburton was hoping for some help from former club Brentford it soon became apparent it was not forthcoming as news filtered through of two early Blackburn goals. Birmingham were also ahead at Bristol City.
The news from Griffin Park and Ashton Gate coincided with a lull in the game - and the atmosphere inside the City Ground.
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The early enthusiasm appeared to have been sucked from the stadium and Forest's players were now looking nervy and struggling to get a foothold in the match, as Ipswich dominated possession.
In the 38th minute, Smith produced a superb reaction save to push Dominic Samuel's deflected shot against the crossbar.
Then, at the other end, Lichaj's quick throw-in caught Ipswich napping and Ward was clattered by goalkeeper Bialkowski. Forest had a penalty.
Assombalonga confidently stroked the ball high into the roof of the net to give the hosts a 43rd-minute lead.
The relief was tangible. As things stood, Forest were safe by the slenderest of margins - by virtue of goals scored.
There was still time in the first half for Ipswich to provide another heart-stopping moment as Christophe Berra glanced a header inches wide from a corner.
Forest began the second period brightly, and Cohen's deflected shot after 57 minutes, which flicked off Jordan Spence and into the top corner of the net, sent the City Ground wild.
Assombalonga had the chance to but saw his penalty brilliantly diverted over the crossbar in the 66th minute.
However, he soon had his second goal of the game when he turned in the ball from close range.
The striker almost claimed a hat-trick but Bialkowski smothered his far-post volley, as news of Blackburn's third goal filtered through. But it was irrelevant. Forest survived and they had done it in style.