The Albion players may not have realised it but they paid the best possible tribute to Brian Clough at the City Ground.

Adam Virgo's first half header, his fourth goal of the season and third in six games since Mark McGhee converted him into a bustling striker, continued the Seagulls impressive away form.

It also gave Albion their first victory at the City Ground since upsetting Clough's European Champions by the same score 25 years ago.

The late former Albion and Forest manager would have enjoyed the manner of a notable triumph for McGhee's young side, a flowing first half performance followed by resolute defending after the break.

Clough, who died last week, would also have loved the appreciative gesture from one Albion supporter.

An Albion shirt, with Clough's name and the No. 1 on it, was on display inside the main entrance. It had one word written on the bottom: Legend.

McGhee's plans were disrupted by the absence of Guy Butters for the third match running with a calf injury.

McGhee had planned to bring back the experienced centre half and switch the adaptable Adam Hinshelwood to right back in place of ankle ligament victim Adam El-Abd.

Instead, in order to cause the minimum disruption, Charlie Oatway filled in for El-Abd.

Micky Adams, who was at the game to watch his former charges and who signed Oatway for the Seagulls, must have been surprised to see him in that role, but there was no vacancy in the centre of midfield where Richard Carpenter and Alexis Nicolas partnered each other for only the second time this season.

McGhee's game plan remained the same, two solid banks of four behind Leon Knight and Adam Virgo in an attempt to extend Albion's sound recent away form of two wins and a draw with only one goal conceded.

McGhee was keen for Butters to play to combat the aerial threat from Gareth Taylor, Forest's formidable centre forward.

The tall Taylor emphasised the danger as early as the seventh minute with a downward header which Michel Kuipers turned away in acrobatic fashion, although it would not have counted as the linesman already had his flag raised.

Kuipers' reactions would have impressed Dave Beasant, the ex-Forest and Albion custodian who was a special guest for the match.

Once they had dampened Forest's early fire, Albion came into their own.

Taylor was an unintentional provider with a misplaced header in the centre circle which Dean Hammond latched on to before shooting straight at Paul Gerrard from outside the area.

The breakthrough for Albion in the 25th minute was simplicity itself. Darren Currie delivered a pinpoint corner to the far post, where Virgo rose highest to nod in from close range.

The Forest defence was found wanting from another set piece ten minutes later. Danny Cullip, completely unmarked from Currie's free kick, should have doubled Albion's advantage but the captain headed narrowly wide.

The home crowd became increasingly frustrated as confusion reigned among the red shirts in front of them.

Captain David Johnson was so out of tune with his colleagues at one point that he passed straight into touch.

Albion could easily have been in a more commanding position by the break. Hammond, fed by Knight, lobbed over when well placed and Nicolas, outstanding again in that quietly effective way he has of playing the game, fired another shot into Gerrard's midriff.

Joe Kinnear's dissatisfaction with Forest's disjointed first half display was evident as soon as the players re-appeared.

Marlon King, last-gasp hero of Sunday's first victory of the season against West Ham, came on for the second half to form a three-pronged attack with Taylor and Johnson.

The change was part of a double substitution by Kinnear, Eugen Bopp replacing Andy Impey in midfield.

King twice came close to restoring parity. He just failed to reach a cross by Alan Rogers which caused Hinshelwood to hesitate and had a cross-shot parried at full stretch by Kuipers following a rare mistake by Nicolas.

McGhee, sensing the emerging threat and the need for more height at the back, introduced Chris McPhee for Oatway, Virgo reverting to centre half in the reshuffle.

A further adjustment was needed by McGhee in an attempt to interrupt Forest's increasing domination, which produced a shot just wide from Johnson and another by Bopp which Kuipers did well to cut out. Hammond gave way to Kerry Mayo, who took up a left-sided midfield role with Currie switching to the right.

Kuipers saved his second-half best to last, somehow keeping out Taylor's stooping header from Reid's cross to complete a third clean sheet out of four away from home.

Albion finished with ten men, with Cullip off the field for treatment after King drew blood attempting an overhead kick. In Cullip's absence the frail Albert Jarrett, on for Knight, headed clear inside his own box, typifying the spirit of Albion's performance.

  • ALBION (4-4-2): Kuipers 9; Oatway 7, Cullip 8, Hinshelwood 8, Harding 7; Hammond 7, Carpenter 7, Nicolas 9, Currie 7; Knight 7, Virgo 8. Subs: McPhee for Oatway (withdrawn 62), Mayo for Hammond (withdrawn 70), Jarrett for Knight (withdrawn 73), Reid, May
  • Bookings: Oatway (23) foul, Cullip (51) foul, Kuipers (57) time-wasting
  • Scorer: Virgo (25)
  • NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-4-2): Gerrard; Perch, Morgan, Hjelde, Rogers; Impey, Jess, Evans, Reid; Johnson, Taylor. Subs: King for Jess (withdrawn 46), Bopp for Impey (withdrawn 46), Roach, Commons, Robertson
  • Half-Time: Forest 0 Albion 1
  • Attendance: 20,109 (785 Albion)
  • Fans' View: SARAH COOPER (Portslade) What a great result, 25 years after the same score there against the European Champions. Dan Harding was very impressive and we need to sort out his contract soon. Charlie Oatway was probably a bit lucky to stay on for a second bookable tackle but we got away with it.

JOHN KIRKLAND (Crawley) Michel had a great game in the second half but it was a total team effort. We should stay up as long as we keep edging games like that. What happens if we get promoted but our ground isn't good enough?

JOHN HEWITT (Fishersgate) It was a brilliant battling performance and, once again, a great away result. I am hard pushed to pick anyone out but Adam Virgo scored and worked very hard. It's probably the best game Michel Kuipers has had this season and he looks back to the old Michel.

TONY FOSTER (Hove) A complete team effort with a solid defence so I couldn't pick a man of the match. We edged the first half and it was only because they were at home that they pushed on in the second half. Four 1-0 wins, three away from home, we're getting the old Arsenal habit.