Nottingham Forest have won consecutive Premier League games for the first time all season following a 2-0 victory over East Midlands neighbors Leicester City at the City Ground.
Brennan Johnson scored the opener on 56 minutes after latching onto a through ball by Morgan Gibbs-White before rounding Foxes goalkeeper Danny Ward to fire in his fifth goal of the season.
The Wales international would add his and the Reds' second six minutes from time, as another sublime pass from Gibbs-White found Johnson, who rocketed into the far corner.
Leicester rarely attacked and when they did, they got their chances all wrong, Harvey Barnes having the best of the bunch in the first half as he was left unmarked inside the penalty area, but went wide.
Victory sees Forest up to 13th in the table as they are now five points clear of the relegation zone while the Foxes are two points above the drop in 15th.
Story of the match
Steve Cooper made just one change from the Forest side that defeated Wolves in the EFL Cup quarterfinals as Billy McKenna replaced Willy Boly.
Brendan Rodgers welcomed star man Jamie Vardy as well as Papy Mendy to a Leicester side that were defeated by Newcastle in cup action in midweek.N
The Reds were bright at the start of the match, seeing most of the ball in the opening minutes and Ryan Yates had the first chance of the afternoon, meeting Remo Freuler's inswinging cross, but heading wide of the post.
McKenna then intercepted in the middle of the Leicester defense and he found Yates, who again fired wide, this time from outside of the area.
Leicester than fashioned an opportunity as an unmarked Barnes met Marc Albrighton's cross, but flashed wide of the area.
The visitors then sustained a spell of pressure, but Forest grew into the game although they failed to test Ward in goal as the two sides entered the halftime break goalless.
Forest then made the first change of the game at halftime, bringing on Jack Colback for Yates.
The Foxes should have been in front minutes after the restart as Youri Tielemans played in Barnes, who failed to hit the target from close range.
The Reds took control after that and enjoyed a period of dominance. Johnson's ball across the six-yard box failed to find Gibbs-White, before the latter surged past the Leicester back-line, but couldn't test the goal.
Moments later, the hosts opened the scoring. Gibbs-White's ball was met by the surging run of Johnson, who rounded Ward and finished. The assistant referee raised his flag for offsides, but VAR overturned the call.
Leicester could have been reduced to ten men in the final stages of the contest when Daniel Amartey lost possession and proceeded to kick Lewis O'Brien in the groin when the midfielder may have had a sight of goal.
Forest then added a second on 84 minutes as the outstanding Gibbs-White picked up possession in his own half and found Johnson with a sumptuous ball with the outside of his foot and he took a neat first touch before drilling across goal and into the back of the net.
Five minutes of added time came and went as the Reds continued their upward climb towards securing survival.
Player of the match: Morgan Gibbs-White
Was at the heart of the action for Forest always a threat whether with his passing or attacking on his own. Two wonderful assists for Johnson as the duo seem to be forming a solid connection. Overall, a brilliant display from the former Arsenal man.