But Forest quickly bounced back, partly thanks to David Johnson's form, and his new his new hair cut...
An important win at Coventry, thanks to a Riccy Scimeca free-kick, set out Forest's promotion ambitions...
Meanwhile, at Pride Park, things weren't going so well...
Forest's defensive pairing of veteran Des Walker and youngster Michael Dawson was catching a few eyes...
So much so, that Dawson was invited to train with the England squad...
By October, Forest were in the play-off zone and doing well in the league, winning at Milwall despite Forest fans being banned...
And then it was the eagerly awaited trip to Pride Park to take on the Sheep. Unfortunately, the game turned out to be a waste of time, the only notable acheivement being Eugen Bopp getting injured for most of the rest of the season...
...and David Johnson scoring a disallowed goal...
Thankfully, the Leicester game which followed was much more enjoyable, with Jack Lester taking advantage of the Foxes' time-wasting tactics to level the scores at 2-2 in the dying moments...
Forest kept going strong and by the end of November they were up to third, as David Johnson scored a route-one goal against early favourites Ispwich Town...
But the year ended on a sore note as, after an inept performance during Forest's 2-0 win over rivals Reading, Paul Hart launched a verbal assault on referee Mark Cowburn which would later see him disciplined...
The new year brought a break from the league as Forest took on Premiership srugglers West Ham in the third round of the FA Cup. It was a controversial affair, with Forest going out by the odd goal in five, the most debated issue coming when Marlon Harewood was dragged down to prevent him from scoring a certain goal...
A penalty was given but
David Johnson missed and Forest went out of the Cup for another
year.
Morale was given a further blow when young star David Prutton was
sold to Southampton for £2.5m.
Forest's form was somewhat dissapointing through January, but a trip to Selhurst Park brang a welcome win. Forest had been two goals ahead, but allowed Wimbledon to get back into the game. Just as Forest fans were coming to terms with another two points dropped, David Johnson scored a last-minute winner...
After that win, Forest were on good form, getting another win at home to Crystal Palace. But the best was yet to come as Forest gave Stoke a jolly good tonking. By half-time, Marlon had already scored four goals himself...
Feelings were high and confidence grew even further as the Reds secured the services of Darren Huckerby on loan for the rest of the season. He had an imediate impact, scoring two crackers at Gillingham...
From now on, all minds were on March 19 and Forest's game against Derby. Gregory's Girls arrived at the City Ground under great pressure, and it didn't take long for Marlon Harewood to open the scoring...
Moments later and local hero Darren Huckerby doubled Forest's lead, reacting quickly with Johnson hit the bar...
And in the second half the humiliation was complete as Marlon scored from the penalty spot...
Elation filled the City Ground as the team left the pitch to great applause following a famous a long-awaited victory...
In the weeks after the Derby match, Forest fans spent most of their time walking around on the ceiling, and the good results kept coming: the first, a 4-0 victory over play-off rivals Norwich, with Jim Brennan of all people getting his first goal for the club...
Next was the thrilling seven-goal clash with Ipswich, another game stooped with controversy as the home side were given two chances to score from the penalty spot by an anal ref...
Forest were almost secured in the play-offs, but there was the small matter of a trip to Leicester with local pride at stake. Sadly, things didn't go well as Forest were beaten by a single goal in a game marred by dubious tactics from the Leicestershire police force...
So Forest were in the play-offs for the first time in their history and up against Sheffield United. The first leg at the City Ground was a tense affair, but David Johnson broke the deadlock in the second half, getting in behind the United defence and putting the ball past Paddy Kenny...
But joy was short-lived as the Blades equalised straight away from the penalty spot. Things got worse when Michael Dawson was sent off for a rash tackle...
So with the scores level and the Reds without their star defender, fans were given a nervous wait for the second leg at Bramall Lane...
Forest got the first goal in an emotional affair in Sheffield, David Johnson making the most of a mistake by a United defender to score from long-range, sending the keeper the wrong way...
In the second half, things got even better for Forest as Andy Reid bagged the Reds' second...
But United got back into the game...
...and the match went into
extra time.
Then tragedy struck as Des Walker scored the decisive goal into
his own net.
So after 10 long months and many exciting moments, an eventful campaign for Forest that had looked like taking the Reds back into the Premiership, ended in tears...
Watch out for more Lego Reports on LTLF next season!