The Reds could not have asked for better opponents in many ways as the Seasiders had endured a summer of turmoil off the pitch and were still cobbling together a squad as the season opened.
Forest, in contrast, had been busy in the transfer market and broken their transfer record with the signing of Britt Assombalonga from Peterborough United.
Stuart Pearce named the following starting XI at the City Ground: Darlow, Harding, Mancienne, Fox, Hunt, Burke, Cohen, Antonio, Reid, Fryatt, Assombalonga
The game was settled after just half-an-hour when Michail Antonio marked his debut with a goal, followed shortly by Chris Burke's fine striker.
Speaking afterwards, Pearce said: "I was delighted and proud to walk out at the helm of this football club. But the important thing is that we collected three points."