Gareth Taylor was the hero today scoring the only goal of the game to give Forest a much needed and deserved 1-0 win over Reading at the City Ground.
Taylor's 26th-minute strike was just reward for Forest, who dominated the opening 45 minutes and could have been further ahead were it not for a combination of bad finishing and good goalkeeping.
Reading looked better after the break but Forest refused to surrender their lead, boosting their survival hopes while denting the Royals' title ambitions.
The visitors had the first chance of the game when Paul Evans' foul on Andy Hughes presented them with a free kick, but Paul Gerrard saved Nick Shorey's curling shot.
Forest then had a good shout for a penalty when Marlon King's run into the area was brought to an abrupt halt by defender Ibrahima Sonko but the referee was not interested in the appeals.
Taylor then saw a header kept out by Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann before Ross Gardner tried his luck with a shot from distance, which missed the target.
The goal, when it arrived, proved to be a real poacher's goal. Evans let fly from almost 30 yards and when Hahnemann could only tip the ball onto the crossbar Taylor reacted quickest to chip the loose ball in to the net and claim his sixth goal of the season in all competitions.
Hahnemann was the busiest man in a Reading shirt and denied King with his feet after the striker fired in a fierce drive from the left hand side as Forest continued to control the first half.
Evans twice came close to increasing his side's advantage at the end of the first half but he fired wide before blasting over from the edge of the area.
Reading started the second half in determined fashion and Dave Kitson was unlucky to see his shot blocked by the impressive Evans.
Dean Morgan tried to get his side back on terms but he missed the target from distance before Andy Reid made sure Hahnemann was on his toes at the other end as the game opened up.
Evans was putting in a busy shift and he was on hand with another block, this time denying Steve Sidwell as Reading began to display the type of football that helped them into third place in the table.
But they could not break down the stubborn home defence and Forest held on for a much-needed win.
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