Cardiff City earned a third successive Championship victory thanks to a convincing performance at the City Ground in Nottingham.
Junior Hoilett put the Bluebirds ahead and Danny Ward smashed home their second with a magnificent strike.
“You won’t see better goal than that this weekend,” said BBC commentator Kevin Ratcliffe. “It was an outstanding strike.
“The goalkeeper (Smith) was nowhere near it.”
Ward worked tirelessly in attack and when he found himself isolated and marked by two central defenders 25 yards out went for goal in a spectacular fashion and the ball flew into the net.
Forest, who had won their previous four home games, passed the ball around and refused to go route one, while Cardiff competed with confidence and aggression.
The Bluebirds won individual battles and gave it everything with Joe Ralls and Craig Bryson combining beautifully through the middle. Loic Damour, in for the injured Aron Gunnarsson, filled in the gaps around them and left Forest frustrated in front of more than 25,000 spectators.
Cardiff fans were loud and proud in the away section, drowning out Forest supporters with the volume and passion of their chanting.
Well over 1,300 roared their team to a sixth Championship away win this season.
Hoilett headed City ahead after 24 minutes, glancing the ball into the net after Sean Morrison had nodded on from a free-kick.
Then came Ward’s belter seven minutes before half-time and the visitors saw the game out to make it three wins in a row. Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge has kept three successive clean sheets and City have the best defensive record in the Championship, having conceded only 13.
Manager Neil Warnock has his team well organised, they pressed high up the pitch and already have 40 points (19 games) collected this season with another 27 still to play.
They are four points behind leaders Wolves, while they have a three-point cushion ahead of third-placed Sheffield United.
Both teams set up with in 4-2-3-1 formations with Ward leading the attack supported by midfield players. Bruno Manga continued at right-back, where he was outstanding, with Callum Paterson playing on the right wing. He proved an useful outlet for City.
Former Notts County manager Warnock was given a verbally hostile reception from home fans, while Bryson, on loan from Forest’s rivals Derby County, was also a target.
Cardiff left the English midlands feeling happy with the team performance and result. They played exceptionally well in the first half and although performance levels dipped slightly their commitment and hunger for success was outstanding.
Warnock loves taking on Forest, having suffered only four defeats in 13 visits to the City Ground.
The next match for Warnock’s Bluebirds is against Norwich City at Cardiff City Stadium next Friday (December 1, 7.45pm).
Nottingham Forest: Smith, Lichaj, Worrall, Mancienne, Traore, Vaughan, Osborn (Cash 78), Walker, Dowell, McKay (Carayol 68), Murphy (Brereton 78).
Subs not used: Mills, Clough, Henderson, Bouchalakis.
Cardiff City: Etheridge, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Bamba (Peltier 79), Bennett, Paterson, Damour, Ralls, Hoilett, Bryson (Halford 82), Ward (Gouningbe 85).
Subs not used: Tomlin, Feeney, Murphy, Feltscher.
