- James Garner gives Forest lead midway through first half before Brennan Johnson secured the points with late penalty
- The Reds move into play-off places with seventh away win of the season at second-placed Rovers
Head Coach Steve Cooper made one change from the resounding 4-1 FA Cup victory against Leicester on Sunday with Jack Colback restored to central midfield.
Philip Zinckernagel dropped to the bench with James Garner moving into a more advanced position behind Keinan Davis and Brennan Johnson.
Forest were playing in their distinctive third kit as the rain started to fall heavily in East Lancashire at kick-off.
Reda Khadra threatened twice down the right hand side for Blackburn in the opening minutes with his second attack resulting in a cross-shot straight at Samba.
Forest responded with three corners in quick succession and, from the second, Scott McKenna saw a goalbound half-volley blocked.
After ten minutes, Forest broke through Djed Spence on the right and he eventually slipped the ball through to Davis on the left edge of the penalty area but the ball ricocheted harmlessly to Blackburn goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.
Rovers then took a quick free-kick from a central position midway through the Forest half and released John Buckley who found himself clean through. Brice Samba saved expertly with his feet and the ball fell to former Red Ben Brereton Díaz who steered the ball goalwards from close range but Scott McKenna superbly cleared off the line.
After 17 minutes, Forest responded with two efforts from Max Lowe after good work by Davis down the left - the first shot was blocked and the second hit the side netting.
Buckley became the first player booked by referee Joshua Smith for dissent.
Midway through the first half, Forest took the lead. Keinan Davis turned brilliantly after holding the ball up on halfway, showed strength to retain the ball, and then slipped the ball through to Garner in the inside left channel.
The Manchester United loanee showed great composure to drag the ball past the final Rovers defender before sweeping the ball right footed past Kaminski from ten yards for his second goal of the season.
It was a fine Forest goal and just reward for a bright opening. Shortly afterwards, Johnson broke at pace down the left but his shot was blocked.
On the half hour, Jack Colback was booked for fouling Buckley as Forest tried to play their way out from the back, resulting in a free-kick for the hosts 22 yards from goal in a central position. Joe Rothwell’s shot was then blocked by The Reds' wall
Ten minutes before the break, more patient approach play by Forest resulted in Garner nearly releasing Davis in the box.
Five minutes before half-time, more powerful centre forward play by Keinan Davis drew a foul from Blackburn captain Darragh Lenihan who was booked by referee Smith. Garner then fired the ambitious free-kick into the crowd from fully 35 yards.
Rothwell escaped down the left as Rovers counter attacked and Steve Cook brilliantly intercepted the cross which was seemingly on its way to Brereton Diaz for a tap-in. The former Red then flicked a header from Ryan Giles straight at Samba as Blackburn searched for an equaliser before the break.
However, it was Forest who nearly doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. Davis wriggled free on the right of the penalty box from Johnson’s pass, cut across three defenders, but fired his fierce, left-footed shot over the bar from 15 yards.
HALF-TIME: Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Blackburn started the second half with a corner but Forest broke through Keinan Davis who was cynically hauled down by Joe Rothwell as he moved threateningly towards the Rovers goal, with referee Joshua Smith booking Rothwell.
After 53 minutes, Blackburn were reduced to ten men when captain Darragh Lenihan was dismissed for a second yellow for a late challenge on Jack Colback in midfield.
Rovers manager Tony Mowbray immediately bought on forward Sam Gallagher for John Buckley.
Ten minutes into the second half, the sides traded chances as the game became stretched. First, Davis again did brilliantly to wriggle free in the box but saw his shot saved, then Gallagher had a shot blocked by Scott McKenna, before Brennan Johnson fired at Thomas Kaminski from 20 yards.
Blackburn made another change as Tyrhys Dolan replaced Reda Khadra, before Ben Brereton Díaz became the latest Blackburn player booked, this time for dissent.
The home crowd were becoming increasingly involved with the flurry of bookings and Rovers were rallying, but Forest were still looking threatening on the break.
After an hour, referee Smith had to briefly halt the play as an object appeared to be thrown from the crowd towards Brice Samba.
Forest were being forced to defend and Gallagher headed straight at Samba from Dolan’s cross from the right.
James Garner was then booked after an altercation with Lewis Travis and Sam Surridge then replaced Davis with 20 minutes left.
Almost immediately, Surridge had a fine opportunity to score after Johnson’s drive was saved by Kaminski, however his cross-shot missed both the far post and the on-rushing James Garner by inches.
The match was now being played at break neck speed, and finally there was respite when Ryan Yates required treatment after a heavy challenge with Gallagher in midfield.
With 15 minutes left, Brereton Díaz’s long range effort was deflected into Samba’s grasp.
Forest then attacked again through Surridge, whose cross ended up with Yates shooting into the side netting from the edge of the box.
After 82 minutes, Forest missed a good opportunity to seal the points. Surridge broke down the left and, with Johnson free in the box on his right, he curled his shot over the bar.
Tony Mowbray made his final change of the evening when Ryan Hedges replaced Deyovaisio Zeefuik.
Surridge was again involved as he broke away down the right and forced a Forest corner before being booked for pulling back Scott Wharton.
In the last minute of normal time, Surridge again wriggled free in the box and this time was fouled by Jan Paul van Hecke. Referee Smith pointed to the spot, before Brennan Johnson calmly stepped up to put The Reds 2-0 up with his ninth goal of the season.
Xande Silva replaced Brennan Johnson as the match moved into injury time with The Reds securing their seventh away win of the season to move into the play-off positions.
FULL-TIME: Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Nottingham Forest
MATCH STATISTICS
Blackburn Rovers (3-4-1-2): Thomas Kaminski, Darragh Lenihan (c), Jan Paul van Hecke, Scott Wharton; Deyovaisio Zeefuik (Ryan Hedges 83’), Lewis Travis, Joe Rothwell, Ryan Giles; John Buckley (Sam Gallagher 54’); Reda Khadra (Tyrhys Dolan 58’), Ben Brereton Díaz
Substitutes not used: Aynsley Pears, Ryan Nyambe, Bradley Johnson, Daniel Ayala, Ryan Hedges
Bookings: John Buckley (18’), Darragh Lenihan (40’), Joe Rothwell (50’), Ben Brereton Díaz (59’)
Sending off: Darragh Lenihan (53’)
Nottingham Forest (3-4-1-2): Brice Samba; Joe Worrall (c), Steve Cook, Scott McKenna; Djed Spence, Ryan Yates, Jack Colback, Max Lowe; James Garner; Brennan Johnson (Xande Silva 90’), Keinan Davis (Sam Surridge 69’)
Substitutes not used: Ethan Horvath, Richie Laryea, Tobias Figueiredo, Cafu, Philip Zinckernagel
Goals: James Garner (22’), Brennan Johnson (pen, 89’)
Bookings: Jack Colback (30’), James Garner (68’), Sam Surridge (87’)
Shots: 12-15
On target: 7-5
Corners: 4-3
Possession: 55-45
Referee: Joshua Smith
Assistant referees: Philip Dermot, Sam Lewis
Fourth official: Robert Madley
Attendance: 13,869 including 1,952 Forest fans