Barnsley were harshly defeated in Nottingham as they were once again made to pay for their own profligacy in front of goal.
Veteran midfielder Ben Watson's 56th minute strike against the run of play condemned Daniel Stendel's side to another defeat in the Sky Bet Championship.
Despite seeing a plethora of opportunities created, particularly in the second period, Barnsley were stung when the home side took a rare chance of their own.
There was just the solitary change for the Reds going into this one, Dani Pinillos started at left back as he made a return to his former stomping ground.
In a very even first half where chances were at a premium, Barnsley had arguably the better opportunities.
Despite having the majority of possession Forest struggled to open up the Barnsley backline and indeed it was Stendel's men who looked most likely to open the scoring.
A competitive affair, the hosts saw Matty Cash booked on 24 minutes as he dived looking for a free-kick before there a huge let-off for the Reds..
Experienced striker Lewis Grabban was played in on goal but he screwed his shot a couple of yards wide from inside the box as Brad Collins narrowed the angle.
There was a caution for Jordan Williams on the half-hour mark as he slid into Forest defender Ribeiro, and then came a real chance for Daniel Stendel's side..
Just before the break, Luke Thomas surged beyond defenders and into the hosts' box before seeing his riht-footed effort parried behind by Forest 'keeper Brice Samba.
It had been a positive opening 45 for the Reds in a game played in sweltering conditions at the City Ground.
HALF TIME: Forest 0-0 Barnsley
The Reds came flying out of the blocks in the second half, with Toby Sibbick and Alex Mowatt letting fly from the edge of the box before the dangerous Thomas saw another strike blocked just in front of the goal by a Forest defender.
On 54 minutes another massive chance for Barnsley as Pinillos broke free on the left, ran at his marker before playing a sweet one-two with Cauley Woodrow which teed him up inside the area for a shot on the angle but his effort was turned away by Samba for another corner.
Forest went up the other end from the set-play, in a four-on-four breakaway they had all the time in the world wide right to square a ball back into the box and Watson finished with aplomb, eight-yards out to give the home side a lead their play had scarcely deserved.
The Reds kept up the pressure and Cameron McGeehan, Conor Chaplin and Patrick Schmidt were all introduced by Stendel as the hunt continued for an equaliser.
Thomas was once more denied by Samba when he raced into the box and fired towards the top corner, before Schmidt's great glancing header from a Thomas cross dropped just a foot wide of the far post.
It was superb play from McGeehan as we entered the final minute as he hit a wonderful diagonal ball into Brown, he found Mallik Wilks who skillfully turned his man inside the box, six yards out now he elected to shoot when Chaplin and Mowatt were waiting for a cut-back; the shot was charged down by a terrific sliding tackle from veteran defender Michael Dawson.
The result was harsh and didn't reflect the performance, but it's four away games now without even a single goal. It's clear where the Reds need to improve if they're to begin to get this season up and running.
FULL TIME: Forest 1-0 Barnsley
Collins (GK), Williams (Chaplin), Andersen, Halme (McGeehan), Pinillos, Brown, Mowatt, Sibbick, Thomas, Wilks, Woodrow (Schmidt).
Unused: Walton (GK), Bähre, Oduor, Thiam.
