Forest could not hang on to a deserved point at the Amex stadium this afternoon and went down to a late winner by Buckley for Brighton in the third minute of time added on.
Both managers admitted afterwards that the hosts were somewhat fortunate to take all three points.
"I feel for Forest," said Seagulls boss Gus Poyet.
"Everything worked for the team that is doing a bit better. They (Forest) would have thought 'what have we to do to win?'."
Steve Cotterill meanwhile was left to reflect on a 'real kick in the teeth'.
"We dominated the second half and I have never see any team dominate Brighton in the way we did at this ground. How we lost the game was a mystery.
"I wouldn't say it was a lack of firepower. We know what we need. It was a fantastic team performance."