Dougie Freedman's faith in his side was finally vindicated at the City Ground as Forest took a priceless early lead through Nelson Oliveira and held on to it with more than a degree of comfort.
It puts Freedman in a stronger position to negotiate the busy period of matches that will come after the international break as Forest will play nine times from the trip to Brentford on Saturday 21 November and another journey to London to face Charlton Athletic on Saturday 2 January.
A tough schedule but one that does not contain any games against the current top six in the Championship.
That gives hope of a slow climb up the table although the restrictions that Freedman faces in the transfer market and the current injury problems make it unlikely that Forest are suddenly going to start putting two or three goals past their opponents.
More of the same maybe in the offing but if it is the same as Friday night then things could look a little brighter come 2016.