Paul Hart's Nottingham Forest side moved up to third in the first division table as they beat struggling Brighton 3-2 at the City Ground.
Forest looked very lively in the opening stages and they took the lead in the eighth minute when David Prutton threaded the ball through to David Johnson.
Forest's top scorer lost his marker and although his shot was parried by Michels Kuipers the loose ball fell to Marlon Harewood who tapped the ball home.
Minutes later Jack Lester was clean through on goal with only the keeper to beat but his optimistic chip flew over the crossbar.
Brighton had their first attempt on goal in the 25th minute when Darren Ward parried Nathan Jones' 25-yard shot away for a corner.
On the half-hour Kuipers produced two world-class saves to deny Riccardo Scimeca and Harewood.
On the stroke of half-time Forest doubled their lead when Scimeca set up Johnson to fire home his 18th goal of the season.
Lester got this name on the scoresheet in the 75th minute when he headed Prutton's cross in a crowded penalty home.
Brighton shook Forest with two goals in the last ten minutes.
Steve Sidwell slid the ball past Darren Ward in the 80th minute and two minutes into stoppage time Nathan Jones scored a fine solo effort.
However, it proved to be too little too late as the Seagulls remain bottom