Before kick-off the Norwich fans applauded the signing of Darren Huckerby following his acceptance of a two-and-a-half-year contract and major shareholder Delia Smith promised the fans that it would be onwards and upwards for the Canaries from this point on.
The 1-0 victory over Forest took the Canaries upwards and three points clear at the top of Division One but it was a hard won victory against a Forest side anxious to end their own dismal run.
The home side kicked off but the visitors spurned the chance of an early lead when Andy Reid fired inches wide after Marlon King's shot had been blocked by the City defence.
In the fifth minute Eugen Bopp tested Robert Green with a long-range effort as Forest created the best of the early chances.
However the Canaries went ahead after 14 minutes. Leon McKenzie got his head to Green's goal-kick feeding Ian Henderson who took the ball down the right wing and when he crossed Mathias Svensson opened his account for City with a left foot volley from the six yard line which beat Darren Ward at the far post.
Forest fought back and Gareth Taylor went close with two headers while Reid brought a smart save from Green.
Two minutes before half time Craig Fleming was inches away from scoring when his firm downward header from Phil Mulryne's free-kick came back off the near post.
Four minutes into the second half Ward got his fingertips to Henderson's angled drive, while at the other end Fleming had to clear the ball off his own goal line when Green for once failed to make contact with an attempted punch.
On the hour Ward saved from Svensson and Green from Reid.
Green then saved from King, doing well to hold onto a slippery wet ball and in the 77th minute McKenzie tried to side foot home Mulryne's right-wing cross, but Ward reacted quickly to smother the ball and keep the score at 1-0.