Alan Green reports (BBC Radio 5 Live)

Two supreme strikes from Italian maestro Benito Carbone gave Wednesday a vital victory against fellow strugglers Forest.

Alexandersson puts Wednesday 1-0 up (BBC Radio 5 Live)

But events at Hillsborough did little to suggest either side will find it easy to avoid relegation this season.

All five goals may have been well taken on a night of frantic entertainment, but the enduring image from this game is one of woeful defending.

Carbone puts Wednesday 2 up (BBC Radio 5 Live)

Forest in particular looked all at sea at the back and manager Dave Bassett will be furious with the way his side allowed Wednesday to take control of the game.

Wednesday striker Booth slides in to tackle Hjelde

After a shaky start, Forest began to string a few passes together. They came close to scoring in the 18th minute when Andy Johnson ran at the heart of the Wednesday defence and played in Alan Rogers, who tried to slip the ball inside the far post - but Pavel Srnicek was on top form to dive low to his left and turn the ball away.

Midway through the half Wednesday went in front through a slick move, as Forest's statuesque defence just looked on.

Wim Jonk fed Carbone out on the left flank and the Italian punted a huge cross into the area. The hanging pass should have been cleared with ease, but somehow Niclas Alexandersson found himself unmarked and he calmly headed down past Dave Beasant into the far corner.

Bonalair pulls Forest back 2-1 (BBC Radio 5 Live)

A minute later Andy Booth almost produced a carbon copy of the goal, but this time Beasant collected his downward header.

With Wednesday growing in confidence, Alexandersson tried to connect with Carbone's near-post cross, but Beasant was again alert to the danger.

Alexandersson celebrates his opener

A piece of sublime skill from Carbone put Wednesday two goals up in the 53rd minute - but again the visitors' defence was left looking red-faced.

Twice in the space of a few seconds routine clearances were played straight to Wednesday players - and the second time Carbone made Jon Olav Hjelde pay for his mistake, as he beat Beasant with a magnificent angled chip.

But immediately Forest hit back and Thierry Bonalair scored, hooking home Rogers' deep cross at the near post.

A hectic five-minute spell culminated in a third goal, as Carbone then beat the offside trap on the left, collected Rudi's through-ball and curled a beautiful right-footed shot into the far corner.

Carbone scores his second and puts Wednesday 3-1 up (BBC Radio 5 Live)

Wednesday now looked like scoring with every attack. Booth set up Danny Sonner with a cheeky back-heel and Beasant was forced into a full-stretch save.

Forest seemed dead and buried, but 20 minutes from time they again reduced the arrears, Pierre van Hooijdonk squeezing his shot under Srineck's body after Johnson's shot was blocked in the area.

Van Hooijdonk proves he is still alive by scoring to pull back 3-2 (BBC Radio 5 Live)

Three minutes from time Forest had a glorious chance to equalise, but Steve Chettle's shot was blocked and Srnicek kept out Andy Gray's effort from the rebound.

But Wednesday held out in the face of a manic last few minutes, as Forest failed to find the decisive touch that would have given themselves a point.

Teams:

Sheff Wed: Srnicek, Atherton, Jonk, Walker, Carbone, Booth, Hinchcliffe, Thome, Rudi, Alexandersson, Sonner. Subs: Clarke, Humphreys, Briscoe, Stefanovic, Magilton.

Nottm Forest: Beasant, Rogers, Quashie, Chettle, Hjelde, Johnson, Bart-Williams, Armstrong, Bonalair, Darcheville, Van Hooijdonk. Subs: Crossley, Gemmill, Shipperley, Gray, Harewood.