Match ends, Cardiff City 1, Nottingham Forest 0.
CardiffCardiff City1Nottm ForestNottingham Forest0
Nottingham Forest were plunged deeper into relegation trouble as Aron Gunnarsson gave Cardiff victory.
The hosts were closest to scoring in a cagey first half as Peter Whittingham's thunderous long-range shot hit the bar.
Gunnarsson won it for Cardiff with a swerving first-time effort from 25 yards, though Apostolos Vellios almost equalised but also hit the woodwork.
Forest drop to 21st place in the Championship table, just one point above the bottom three.
Cardiff, meanwhile, climb up to 13th after a third successive home win.
A significant day at the foot of the Championship saw four of Forest's relegation rivals taking each other on, with Blackburn hosting Bristol City and Birmingham at home to Burton.
Perhaps mindful of how tight things were in the bottom half, Mark Warburton's side started a little apprehensively against Cardiff, who were the first to threaten with Whittingham's booming 30-yard shot which crashed against the crossbar.
Other than that and a powerful long-range effort from Forest's Mustapha Carayol, there was precious little in terms of scoring opportunities in the first half.
There was more entertainment near the dugout, where Cardiff assistant manager Kevin Blackwell and his opposite number David Weir had to be separated after frayed tempers almost led to a scuffle.
Forest appeared to harness that emotion at half-time, emerging after the restart with renewed vigour and attacking intent.
Carayol looked their likeliest source of a goal, unnerving the home defence with his direct and quick running.
Despite the visitors' improvement, it was Cardiff who made the breakthrough as Kadeem Harris' cross was only half-cleared, leaving the ball to bobble invitingly into the path of Gunnarsson, who unleashed a fierce first-time shot which swerved beyond Jordan Smith and into the far corner.
Forest rallied, with substitutes Vellios and Britt Assombalonga threatening - but the former wasted their best opportunity as his looping header bounced on to the bar, stretching their winless run away from home to 11 league games.
Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock:
"Gunnar normally whacks the pigeon off the top of the stand with those strikes. It was like a missile going into the top corner.
"I watched it all the way in and the goalkeeper had no chance. It was a cracking finish. I think he can do more in attack and should be pushing for 10 goals a season, but I'm delighted.
"I know people have said we've got nothing to play for, but we wanted to have a real go and I think we did that."
Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton:
"We created some good chances to score, but I'm disappointed we conceded a goal from 25 yards because I thought we did more than enough to get a point.
"We are where we are and I'm not getting away from that. But if we play like we did today and show the desire and work ethic we did, then we'll be okay. I hope the supporters saw that in our performance because this is a very tough place to come.
"We have to concentrate on ourselves now because if you don't do that in this league, you pay the price."
Line-ups
Cardiff
Formation 4-4-2
- 1McGregor
- 2PeltierSubstituted forRichardsat 64'minutes
- 4Morrison
- 5Ecuele Manga
- 3Bennett
- 33Hoilett
- 17Gunnarsson
- 7WhittinghamSubstituted forHalfordat 86'minutes
- 24K Harris
- 13PilkingtonSubstituted forRallsat 77'minutes
- 26Zohore
Substitutes
- 6Richards
- 8Ralls
- 11Noone
- 15Halford
- 19Lambert
- 28Murphy
- 31M Harris
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-4-2
- 43Smith
- 2Lichaj
- 42Worrall
- 13Fox
- 3PinillosSubstituted forVelliosat 81'minutes
- 45BreretonSubstituted forCloughat 76'minutes
- 8Cohen
- 24Vaughan
- 18Carayol
- 19WardSubstituted forAssombalongaat 75'minutes
- 11Osborn
Substitutes
- 4Mancienne
- 9Assombalonga
- 16Clough
- 26Evtimov
- 28Lam
- 39Vellios
- 41Cash
- Referee:
- Andy Madley
- Attendance:
- 16,413
Match Stats
Home TeamCardiffAway TeamNottm Forest
- Possession
- Home39%
- Away61%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away23
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away1
- Corners
- Home1
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Cardiff City 1, Nottingham Forest 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mustapha Carayol with a cross.
Post update
Offside, Cardiff City. Kenneth Zohore tries a through ball, but Junior Hoilett is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kenneth Zohore (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Bennett.
Post update
Foul by David Vaughan (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Kadeem Harris (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Offside, Cardiff City. Greg Halford tries a through ball, but Junior Hoilett is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Apostolos Vellios (Nottingham Forest).
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Sean Morrison (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Joe Worrall (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Kenneth Zohore (Cardiff City).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Apostolos Vellios (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Zach Clough.
Post update
Daniel Fox (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Kenneth Zohore (Cardiff City).
Post update
Foul by Apostolos Vellios (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Greg Halford (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Junior Hoilett (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Joe Bennett.
Substitution
Substitution, Cardiff City. Greg Halford replaces Peter Whittingham.
Post update
Attempt missed. Britt Assombalonga (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Ben Osborn.
