29’
Brighton & Hove Albion secured a narrow 1-0 win thanks to an own goal by Andrew Omobamidele to move within five points of sixth-placed Manchester United and increase Nottingham Forest's relegation concerns.
A 12th home Premier League match without defeat also secured Brighton's first ever Premier League double over Forest, having recorded a 3-2 success in November's reverse fixture at the City Ground.
How the match unfolded
Roberto De Zerbi made seven changes from Thursday’s 4-0 UEFA Europa League defeat at Roma, including handing Jakub Moder his first Premier League start since March 2022.
Goalkeeper Jason Steele, Tariq Lamptey, Igor Julio, Facundo Buonanotte, Danny Welbeck and Julio Enciso also dropped to the bench, while Billy Gilmour served the final game of a three-match suspension.
Forest recalled fit-again forward Chris Wood for Anthony Elanga, while Danilo replaced Callum Hudson-Odoi, Nuno Espirito Santo's only two changes from the team beaten by Liverpool last weekend.
De Zerbi had demanded a response following the Roma loss and his players looked in the mood from the off, going close through Moder, Simon Adingra and Evan Ferguson before taking the lead on 29 minutes.
Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels tried to punch a Pascal Gross free-kick clear, but the ball bounced off Omobamidele and into his own net.
Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made a brilliant save to deny Forest an equaliser just three minutes later, getting down low to save from Divock Origi after he had been played in by Morgan Gibbs-White.
Those two combined again shortly after the break, but on this occasion, former Liverpool striker Origi drove wide of the target.
Forest, who had failed to score in each of their previous three league visits to Brighton (D1 L2), pushed for a late equaliser and Verbruggen made another good stop, this time at full stretch to push Wood's strike behind.
Brighton had two final chances to double their lead, with Lewis Dunk heading wide and substitute Enciso firing narrowly over, as they held on for the win which takes them onto 42 points.
Forest, who lost for the 16th time in the league, remain three points above the relegation zone with 24 points.
Club reports
Brighton report | Nott'm Forest report
Match officials
Referee: Michael Salisbury. Assistants: Mat Wilkes, Derek Eaton. Fourth official: Rob Jones. VAR: Craig Pawson. Assistant VAR: Marc Perry.
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