Albion's revival came to an end against a slick Forest side, but only after another spirited late fight-back.

Steve Coppell's injury-hit Seagulls were no match for the East Midlanders in the first half, as Marlon Harewood (8) and David Johnson (45), with his 18th of the season, put the home side in command.

Jack Lester added a third on 76 minutes before Albion bravely mounted a recovery and almost pulled off a repeat of the great escape at Preston four days earlier.

Steve Sidwell reduced their arrears on 80 minutes and Nathan Jones struck a spectacular second a minute into stoppage time, but it was not to be.

Charlie Oatway was given a surprise present on the eve of his 29th birthday, with a recall to the starting line-up after four matches on the bench. That ended a run of 50 consecutive League appearances for Richard Carpenter, who was among the substitutes.

There were two other changes to the team which fought back to draw 2-2 at Preston last Saturday. Jones made his first start since September 21 in the absence of Dean Blackwell and Paul Brooker, who was 26 on Monday, returned for the injured Bobby Zamora.

Forest, free of injury worries, were unchanged for the sixth game in succession. Oatway's main task was to marshal Lester, the home team's creative force.

Harewood, on target in Forest's first League defeat in 12 outings at Wolves last Saturday, threatened in the second minute when he eased past Kerry Mayo into the penalty area.

His low cross was skied well off target by Lester, but it was an early warning for the Seagulls of the vibrancy of Paul Hart's side going forward.

Prutton, an England Under-21 colleague of Zamora, struck a low drive from long range from Johnson's pass, straight at Michel Kuipers.

Sidwell, fresh from his first goal for the Seagulls at Preston, could not get any power into a header from a cross by Simon Rodger to bother Welsh keeper Ward.

It did not take Forest long to find a way though Albion's five-man rear-guard. Prutton's pass sent the prolific Johnson scampering away from Danny Cullip at lightning speed.

His shot was parried by Kuipers, but the ball eventually broke for Harewood to drill a low effort from an acute angle through the legs of Albion's Dutch custodian.

Harewood's sixth of the season should have been followed by a second goal for Forest on 15 minutes. Lester waltzed through the middle of the defence, only to then somewhat casually lift the ball over the bar.

Forest were proving a real handful and Albion were restricted to a shot over the bar by Paul Watson from just inside the box by way of response.

It was asking a lot of Albion without their first choice strike force of Zamora and Graham Barrett, but they almost drew level in the 26th minute.

Sidwell's raking crossfield pass found Jones, whose control took him inside Matthieu Louis-Jean. His right footer from 15 yards was pushed over the bar for a corner by fellow Welshman Darren Ward.

Johnson should have doubled the Seagulls' deficit a minute later, heading wide from close range from Crutton's left wing cross.

Former Aston Villa defender Scimeca almost embarrassed Kuipers with an effort from 30 yards, which nearly crept through his legs.

Kuipers was seen to much better effect just beyond the half hour, foiling Harewood after Lester released the young striker eight yards out.

Gary Hart, having required treatment after winning a header, collected the first caution of the contest five minutes before the break. He caught Louis-Jean a little late as the French fullback tried to clear up the line.

Watson was next in the wars. He needed attention after a clash of heads with Prutton near the centre circle.

The Seagulls had been similarly dazed by Forest's fluent attacking and they fell further behind in the final minute of the half. Scimeca seized on Robbie Pethick's poor header with a pass to Johnson and he lashed home his 16th League goal of the campaign. The half ended on a downbeat note for Albion with simultaneous bookings for Watson for a foul on Prutton and Sidwell for dissent.

Albion needed to score the next goal to have any prospect of a Preston-type come-back and raise the spirits of their 1,249fans.

They gleaned encouragement from a period of possession after Jones' centre from Oatway's crossfield pass had been headed well wide by Hart.

Forest threatened on 62 minutes via a neat move involving Harewood and Lester before Johnson was denied by Mayo's tackle.

Albion made a substitution midway through the second half, Carpenter coming on for Oatway.

Forest eventually introduced Jess for Harewood amid some confusion. Lester's number had initially been displayed by the fourth official as the player to be replaced.

Lester made it 3-0 14 minutes from time with a far post header from the outstanding Prutton's cross.

The Seagulls' supporters had something to celebrate ten minutes from time with Sidwell's second goal in as many games. The loan midfielder from Arsenal planted a right foot shot past Ward from Daniel Webb's square pass.

Jones capped an impressive comeback with a right foot shot from 25 yards which found the roof of the net a minute into stoppage time.

  • Albion (5-1-2-2): Kuipers (gk) 7, Watson (rwb) 6, Mayo (cd) 7, Cullip (cd) 7, Hart (f) 7, Oatway (cm) 6, Brooker (f) 7, Pethwick (cd) 6, Jones (lwb) 8, Rodger (lm) 7, Sidwell (rm) 7. Subs: Rogers, Butters, Carpenter for Oatway (withdrawn 68), Packham, Webb for Watson (withdrawn 76).
  • Scorers: Sidwell (80), Jones 91.
  • Bookings: Hart (40) foul, Watson (45) foul, Sidwell (45) unsporting behaviour.
  • Half-Time: Forest 2 Albion 0.
  • Attendance: 29,137.
  • Fan's View: Mike Middleton (Brighton).
  • In probably the best atmosphere this season, the Brighton fans shouted their heads off and showed Nottingham up by the sound we made.

On the pitch we sort of lacked Zamora and Barrett, we needed that firepower up front as when we started pushing forward as we did towards the end we came good and put them under a load of pressure.

Just shows the squad needs strength in depth with good players and we need to keep the money rolling in for the 40 Note Fund.

We scored two really good goals and the man-of-the-match, I think, was Kuipers, who had an excellent game.