Gary Megson's West Brom remained top of the first division after they took three points at the City Ground.
This explosive clash had everything you could want - goals, disallowed goals and controversy.
Paul Hart's men started well enough. As early as the first minute Scottish international Eoin Jess tested Albion keeper Russell Hoult, but saw his powerful shot turned round the post.
Jason Koumas scored the opener seven minutes before the break, when he collected the ball in his own half, ran the length of the pitch, beating five Forest men on the way, and shot from 25 yards to beat the helpless Darren Ward in the home goal.
The visitors should have gone further ahead when Rob Hulse put the ball in the net only for it to be disallowed for offside, which looked to be a harsh decision.
He was then wronged again when clean through with only the keeper to beat, being brought down by John Thompson only for the referee to wave play on.
The Baggies went 2-0 up on 44 minutes when a powerful Koumas free-kick was deflected into the Forest goal by their own defender Mathieu Louis-Jean. Amazingly, that was the fifth own goal that has gone in for West Brom this season, all from Koumas free-kicks.
Hart gave a debut to Marlon King, who cost Nottingham Forest £950,000 in the week, but he failed to make an impact after his 65th minute introduction.
The game was all but over when Koumas scored his second of the day - almost a carbon copy of the first. His surged past three defenders and shot past his Welsh international colleague Ward to make it 3-0.
Nottingham Forest have now not won in six games and on this evidence Hart desperately needs to lift his players.