David McGoldrick was the hero as Nottingham Forest re-ignited their play-off push with a 2-0 win at the expense of 10-man Burnley at the City Ground.
The substitute's second-half double ensured Forest claimed their first win in 10 matches to move within one point of sixth-placed Leeds.
Following a dull opening quarter, the game exploded into life when Chris Eagles spurned a clear cut opportunity to put Burnley in front. However, the visitors were reduced to 10 men after 32 minutes when Marvin Bartley was harshly red-carded for a rash challenge on Luke Chambers.
That was all the motivation Forest needed and they dominated the game thereafter, with Lewis McGugan and Robert Earnshaw forcing Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen into action.
Their persistence was rewarded when McGoldrick found the back of the net after capitalising on poor defending 17 minutes from time.
And he wrapped up the win in injury-time with a first-time shot after being teed up by Earnshaw.
Forest were automatic promotion challengers a couple of months ago but a winless run of nine games had seen them slip outside the play-off places and they made four changes to the line-up that suffered a 4-3 defeat to Reading on Saturday.
The Clarets are another team who have fallen away recently and boss Eddie Howe responded to their 4-0 humbling at Leicester by making three changes.
With both sides' defensive frailties on show at the weekend, it was understandable that neither team seemed keen to take a chance in the opening exchanges.
From out of nowhere, though, Eagles should have put the visitors in front on the half-hour mark.
The ball bobbled off Nathan Delfouneso's back and into the path of the on-rushing Eagles, whose shot was denied by the trailing legs of Forest keeper Lee Camp.
The midfielder's failure to find the net took on added significance when Burnley midfielder Bartley received a straight red card for a rash challenge on Chambers two minutes later.
The decision did appear to be rather harsh, although the hosts could not force the initiative and the score remained goalless at half-time.
Marcus Tudgay struck narrowly wide, while Chambers narrowly failed to get on the end of McGugan's free-kick as Forest, buoyed by their one man advantage, came out all guns blazing after the interval.
McGugan's 20-yard free-kick was magnificently palmed away by Brian Jensen and although it fell into the path of Earnshaw, the striker could only head against the crossbar.
It seemed only a matter of time before the Burnley goal was breached and Jensen was called upon again to save at the feet of Earnshaw after he had brought down Paul McKenna's header over the top.
However, their persistence finally paid off when McGoldrick opened the scoring in the 73rd minute.
McGugan's drilled left-wing free-kick was insufficiently cleared by the Burnley defence and McGoldrick turned and slotted home.
McGugan's fierce 20-yard strike brought another great save from Jensen but McGoldrick ensured the win in the third minute of injury time.
With the Burnley defence stretched, Earnshaw broke away before squaring the ball to McGoldrick, who fired past Jensen.
Source: DSG
Source: DSG