Marcus Tudgay's first-minute goal ensured Nottingham Forest edged past fellow promotion chasers Watford to go second in the Championship table.
Tudgay struck from the edge of the box after 51 seconds and the hosts held on to net a sixth consecutive league win.
Both sides had their chances after that with Marvin Sordell and Lloyd Doyley going close for the visitors.
Nathan Tyson, Rob Earnshaw, Chris Cohen and defender Luke Chambers also had chances for Forest.
But the Reds did not need a clinching second goal and now sit seven points behind leaders QPR with two games in hand.
The game's pivotal moment came when new Forest left-back Paul Konchesky combined with Cohen and Earnshaw and the latter teed up Tudgay who finished in fine style with the outside of his right foot.
Watford responded and home keeper Lee Camp made fine saves from a fierce Sordell strike and an excellent dipping effort from full-back Doyley.
Cohen then hit a snap shot at the other end before Earnshaw curled a free-kick wide as a lively first half came to an end.
The chances dried up a bit after the interval but Earnshaw flashed a shot across the face of goal and Watford's Danny Graham had his first attempt but he could only drill a low shot at Camp after some good work in the box.
Chambers almost nicked a second home goal when he flicked a header wide from a Radoslaw Majewski corner before Forest substitute Nathan Tyson had the final effort of the afternoon when he shot straight at keeper Scott Loach from 20 yards.
The Hornets have now gone four games without a win in all competitions but remain in the hunt for a play-off push themselves.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 5 February 2011
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Nott'm Forest
1-0
Watford
FT
(HT 1-0)
Tudgay 1
Nott'm Forest
01 Camp
03 Konchesky yellow card
04 Chambers
05 Morgan
16 Gunter
07 Anderson (Tyson 63)
15 Cohen
18 McKenna
28 Majewski yellow card (McGugan 79)
10 Earnshaw (Adebola 78)
20 Tudgay yellow card
Substitutes
21 Smith,
33 Lynch,
08 McGugan,
09 Adebola,
11 Tyson,
12 McCleary,
17 McGoldrick
Watford
01 Loach
02 Hodson
05 M Taylor
06 Mariappa
12 Doyley
04 Eustace yellow card
11 Buckley
15 McGinn
32 Drinkwater yellow card (Whichelow 52)
10 Graham
20 Sordell (Weimann 66)
Substitutes
13 Gilmartin,
17 Bennett,
14 Jenkins,
24 Whichelow,
31 Townsend,
09 Deeney,
22 Weimann
Ref: ScottAtt: 23,393
NOTT'M FOREST
WATFORD
Possession
Nott'm Forest46%
Watford54%
Attempts on target
Nott'm Forest5
Watford4
Attempts off target
Nott'm Forest4
Watford1
Corners
Nott'm Forest5
Watford8
Fouls
Nott'm Forest15
Watford12
Final Result
95:07 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
Full Time
90:00+0:27 Lewis McGugan has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
88:08 Stephen McGinn challenges Chris Cohen unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Camp takes the free kick.
87:40 Booking Marcus Tudgay is given a yellow card.
87:39 Marcus Tudgay challenges John Eustace unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lloyd Doyley takes the free kick.
87:08 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lloyd Doyley by Nathan Tyson. Scott Loach takes the direct free kick.
85:22 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Matthew Whichelow, clearance made by Chris Cohen.
84:53 Foul by Luke Chambers on Danny Graham, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed right-footed by Matthew Whichelow, clearance by Chris Gunter.
80:27 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Hodson by Paul McKenna. Free kick taken by Lee Hodson.
79:52 Handball by Nathan Tyson. Scott Loach restarts play with the free kick.
77:52 Substitution Radoslaw Majewski goes off and Lewis McGugan comes on.
77:52 Substitution Dele Adebola on for Robert Earnshaw.
76:04 Shot from 18 yards by Nathan Tyson. Save made by Scott Loach.
75:45 Nathan Tyson crosses the ball, save by Scott Loach.
74:54 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matthew Whichelow by Paul Konchesky. Matthew Whichelow crosses the ball in from the free kick, Marcus Tudgay makes a clearance.
74:54 Booking Paul Konchesky goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
74:05 Radoslaw Majewski fouled by Stephen McGinn, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Chris Cohen, save by Scott Loach.
71:42 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on John Eustace by Radoslaw Majewski. Centre by Matthew Whichelow, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Adrian Mariappa goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
70:43 A cross is delivered by Nathan Tyson, blocked by Martin Taylor. Corner taken by Radoslaw Majewski from the left by-line to the near post, Luke Chambers has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the goal.
69:26 Corner taken right-footed by Matthew Whichelow from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Paul McKenna.
68:38 The ball is sent over by Chris Gunter, Scott Loach makes a save.
67:51 A cross is delivered by Will Buckley, clearance by Paul Konchesky.
66:43 Unfair challenge on Stephen McGinn by Marcus Tudgay results in a free kick. Scott Loach takes the free kick.
65:52 Substitution (Watford) makes a substitution, with Andreas Weimann coming on for Marvin Sordell.
64:29 Radoslaw Majewski concedes a free kick for a foul on Marvin Sordell. Free kick taken by Scott Loach.
64:04 Matthew Whichelow handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul McKenna.
63:30 The ball is delivered by Nathan Tyson.
62:18 Martin Taylor challenges Robert Earnshaw unfairly and gives away a free kick. Shot comes in from Chris Cohen from the free kick, Scott Loach makes a save.
62:18 Substitution Nathan Tyson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Paul Anderson.
59:09 A cross is delivered by Will Buckley, blocked by Chris Gunter. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Matthew Whichelow from the left by-line, free kick awarded for a foul by John Eustace on Chris Cohen. Lee Camp takes the direct free kick.
56:57 Booking Radoslaw Majewski goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
56:26 Radoslaw Majewski takes a shot. Clearance made by Martin Taylor. Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Chris Cohen from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Adrian Mariappa.
56:15 Corner taken by Chris Cohen.
55:18 Radoslaw Majewski fouled by Matthew Whichelow, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Radoslaw Majewski.
54:17 Matthew Whichelow crosses the ball, clearance by Chris Gunter. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Matthew Whichelow from the right by-line to the near post.
53:20 Matthew Whichelow takes a shot from 18 yards. Save by Lee Camp.
52:49 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Will Buckley by Chris Cohen. Lloyd Doyley takes the direct free kick.
51:51 Substitution Matthew Whichelow comes on in place of Daniel Drinkwater.
48:26 Danny Graham has an effort at goal. Save by Lee Camp.
45:53 Shot from close in by Robert Earnshaw misses to the left of the target.
45:01 The second half begins.
Half Time
45:00+1:24 The half-time whistle blows.
45:00+0:22 Chris Gunter concedes a free kick for a foul on Stephen McGinn. Scott Loach restarts play with the free kick.
39:10 Stephen McGinn challenges Chris Gunter unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lee Camp.
38:00 Foul by Luke Chambers on Marvin Sordell, free kick awarded. Scott Loach takes the direct free kick.
37:35 The ball is swung over by Chris Cohen.
35:39 Chris Cohen takes a inswinging corner to the near post.
32:16 Unfair challenge on Martin Taylor by Marcus Tudgay results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Lee Hodson.
29:38 John Eustace concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul McKenna. Robert Earnshaw fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
29:38 Booking Booking for John Eustace for unsporting behaviour.
28:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Cohen on Lloyd Doyley. Scott Loach takes the direct free kick.
27:49 Daniel Drinkwater gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Wes Morgan. Wes Morgan takes the direct free kick.
27:49 Booking Daniel Drinkwater shown a yellow card.
25:38 Chris Cohen crosses the ball, Scott Loach makes a save.
23:49 Paul Konchesky produces a cross.
23:11 Radoslaw Majewski takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, Will Buckley manages to make a clearance.
22:59 Chris Cohen takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Scott Loach makes a save.
21:32 Effort from 25 yards by Lloyd Doyley. Lee Camp makes a save. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Daniel Drinkwater from the right by-line to the near post, Paul McKenna makes a clearance.
21:21 Danny Graham crosses the ball.
21:05 Paul Anderson sends in a cross, Martin Taylor manages to make a clearance.
20:40 Paul McKenna sends in a cross, clearance made by Adrian Mariappa.
20:27 Paul Konchesky crosses the ball, Lloyd Doyley manages to make a clearance.
18:11 Marcus Tudgay fouled by Stephen McGinn, the ref awards a free kick. Paul McKenna restarts play with the free kick.
15:34 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Daniel Drinkwater played to the near post, clearance made by Chris Gunter.
14:53 Luke Chambers gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Graham. Free kick crossed right-footed by Daniel Drinkwater from right channel, Paul McKenna manages to make a clearance.
14:19 Chris Cohen produces a cross.
12:04 The ball is delivered by Robert Earnshaw.
10:47 Foul by John Eustace on Radoslaw Majewski, free kick awarded. Paul Konchesky takes the direct free kick.
10:25 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Konchesky by Stephen McGinn. Lee Camp takes the free kick.
10:09 Stephen McGinn sends in a cross.
9:33 Free kick awarded for a foul by John Eustace on Robert Earnshaw. Paul McKenna restarts play with the free kick.
6:44 Marvin Sordell delivers the ball, clearance made by Chris Gunter. Corner taken right-footed by Daniel Drinkwater to the near post, clearance by Paul McKenna.
6:12 The ball is crossed by Will Buckley, clearance made by Paul McKenna.
5:46 Will Buckley takes a short corner.
5:14 Marvin Sordell takes a shot. Save by Lee Camp.
4:11 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Daniel Drinkwater by Radoslaw Majewski. Direct free kick taken by Lee Hodson.
2:56 Will Buckley crosses the ball, Paul Anderson manages to make a clearance.
0:51 Assist on the goal came from Robert Earnshaw.
0:51 GOAL - Marcus Tudgay:Nott'm Forest 1 - 0 Watford Marcus Tudgay fires in a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Nottm Forest 1-0 Watford.
0:00 The game begins.
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