Summary Forest began the season with a 0–0 draw at
Reading, the same as their previous season. Forest then picked up their first win of the season a few days later with a 3–0 victory in the
League Cup over League Two
Bradford City, with
Paul Anderson,
Dexter Blackstock and
Lewis McGugan all getting their names onto the scoresheet. However, their first home league game of the season ended in a 1–0 defeat to
West Bromwich Albion, due to an own goal by
Wes Morgan and
Robert Earnshaw missed a penalty for Forest. Forest then suffered their second home defeat of the week, a 4–2 loss against
Watford. The following Saturday saw Forest pick up a point in a 1–1 draw away to
Q.P.R, with a goal from
David McGoldrick in the second half. The next fixture was a midweek League Cup tie against
Middlesbrough at the City Ground. Forest won 2–1 after extra time, after Chambers scored from a corner in the 60th minute and
Radoslaw Majewski scored his first goal for Forest in the 103 minute. Next up was the
East Midlands derby against rivals
Derby County. Forest were looking to beat Derby for the first time since 2003, and they got off to a perfect start when Majewski fired the Reds in front after just 58 seconds. Forest made it 2–0 after 28 minutes,
Dexter Blackstock with the goal.
Nathan Tyson made it 3–0, just three minutes before half time. However Derby were not done yet when a
Wes Morgan own goal and
Jake Livermore goal had Derby back into the game. Forest held onto the win but it was after the game that made the headlines with Nathan Tyson celebrating the win by parading a corner flag, emblazoned with the Forest emblem, across the away fans. Tyson, and Forest as a whole, argued that the gesture was celebratory and the move across the away fans was so Tyson could salute the home fans above and at the other end of the away end. The Derby contingent disagreed, believing that the gesture was inflammatory. Derby players and staff clashed with Forest players and staff. The FA charged Forest and Derby with "failing to control their players", while Tyson was charged with improper conduct. Tyson pleaded guilty to his charge, as did Derby. Forest pleaded not guilty. The FA fined Forest £25,000 and Derby £20,000, with £10,000 suspended for both. Tyson was fined £5,000 and given a two-game ban which was suspended. September started with consecutive 1–1 draws against
Sheffield Wednesday and
Ipswich Town. However Forest were then up against high-flying
Blackpool and suffered a 1–0 defeat before going out of the League Cup by the same scoreline to
Blackburn Rovers. But a 1–0 win over struggling
Plymouth Argyle gave Forest a new lease of life and they made it consecutive wins after a 2–0 win over
Scunthorpe United. In October, Forest moved up to 10th place, their highest position in the Football League since the 2003/04 season, after a 2–1 victory over
Darren Ferguson's,
Peterborough United. Forest then defeated Newcastle United, who were then in second place in the table, at home to gain their fourth consecutive win and consign the Toon to only their second defeat of the season. An injury-time winner from
Guy Moussi saw Forest to their fifth-consecutive win, against Barnsley at home. However, after this Moussi was sent off for a second bookable offence, for celebrating with the Forest fans in the Trent End. Forest ended the month with a 1–1 draw away at
Crystal Palace after coming from behind. November started where October left off with two 1–1 draws against
Cardiff City and
Bristol City.
Lewis McGugan rescued a point with an injury-time equaliser against Cardiff, with
Wes Morgan scoring a late goal against Bristol City, who pulled level later in the game. The next match saw Forest play Middlesbrough away. An early goal from the home team saw Forest on the back foot but a free kick in second half from
Robert Earnshaw saw Forest to their fourth-successive 1–1 draw. The week after Forest introduced a 'mixed area' of fans, where fans of both Forest and Doncaster could sit together. After selling out this allocation, they went on to record their biggest win of the season, at that stage, with a 4–1 victory. This also saw
Nicky Shorey make his debut for the Reds. Forest kick started December with an impressive 5–1 victory over East Midlands rivals
Leicester City, including a
Robert Earnshaw hat-trick. Forest then claimed a draw at
Sheffield United before going to win at
Swansea City and beat
Preston at home,
Billy Davies' and
Paul McKenna's former club who scored the first goal. The Christmas period saw Forest get a draw away at
Watford and a win at home against
Coventry City. January began with a very important win over promotion rivals
West Bromwich Albion. Blackstock, Majewski and Cohen all got on the scoresheet as the Reds won 3–1 to help them leap frog West Brom into second place. The month continued to be good as Forest beat
Reading 2–1 and thumped
QPR 5–0 at home to help them stay in second place. However the month ended in disaster as Forest lost away for the first time in the season to local rivals
Derby County 1–0. This saw their 19-game unbeaten run come to an end. This, coupled with the
FA Cup exit, saw mixed emotions through the month. Forest bounced back in February with a win at home to
Sheffield Wednesday, thanks to a
Dexter Blackstock brace, which saw Forest's impressive home record continue. However, the defeat to Derby away had had its effects. Two away defeats on the bounce to
Coventry City and
Doncaster Rovers saw the Reds slip down to third, despite being unbeaten away for the earlier parts of the season. Home wins against
Sheffield United and
Middlesbrough saw Forest back up to 3rd but their away form took another blow as they lost to
Leicester City 3–0 away. March began with an injury time winner from
Luke Chambers against
Swansea City at home saw Forest mount a push to keep the pressure on second placed
WBA but away defeats against
Preston North End and
Barnsley dented these hopes. A 4th consecutive 1–0 win at home, against
Peterborough United, and a 2–0 win against
Crystal Palace saw Forest equal
Brian Clough's record of twelve consecutive home wins but it was not enough though as
West Bromwich Albion got further away in the promotion push. A 7th consecutive away defeat, against table topping
Newcastle United, saw most fans condemn themselves to the playoffs and West Brom pulled away even further. April saw Forest gained their first away point in three months against Bristol City thanks to a finish from outside the box from
Guy Moussi to draw 1–1. Forest's draw at home to Cardiff 2 days later meant Newcastle were confirmed of promotion. Forest then got an impressive win against Ipswich at home which saw them qualify for the playoffs, but also meant West Brom gained the final automatic promotion place. The following week Forest played
Blackpool away, the last team to beat them at home back in September. With Forest already qualified for the playoffs, the starting 11 saw many fringe players in, which saw Forest go on to lose 3–1 with
Joe Garner getting the consolation, his first of the season. Forest's last home game of the season was against already relegated
Plymouth Argyle, where Forest won 3–0. Forest ended the season with a 2–2 draw, playing
Scunthorpe United away.
Results Results by round League table ==Coca-Cola Championship Playoffs==