Gary Megson's revolution continues to gather pace at Nottingham Forest as the Reds finally claimed their first Coca-Cola Championship away win of the season at Leicester.

The relegation-threatened visitors were outplayed and outfought for much of this encounter and at times seemed unable to get out of their own half.

But a 41st-minute header from Gareth Taylor earned them the most unlikely of smash-and-grab victories over their midlands rivals as Forest gave their survival hopes a massive shot in the arm.

Megson gained a reputation for grinding out 1-0 wins during his time as West Brom boss and he showed here that he has not lost his touch since taking up the reins at the City Ground.

Forest were forced firmly onto the back foot midway through the first half and could so easily have conceded when Nikos Dabizas' header was cleared off the line before Lilian Nalis smashed a shot against the post after the break.

But as the hosts turned up the heat, Forest hung on for dear life to claim a win that extended their unbeaten run to five league matches and could prove so crucial come the end of the campaign.

Leicester handed new loan signing from Southampton Darren Kenton his debut while fellow new boy Patrick McCarthy, who joined this week from Manchester City, was named on the bench.

Forest, meanwhile, had influential winger Kris Commons in their side.

The former Stoke wideman was badly missed during the FA Cup fifth-round replay defeat to Tottenham on Wednesday but he was back from a calf injury.

His presence in the Forest engine room was immediately noticeable and the 21-year-old tried an audacious shot at goal from fully 35 yards in the early stages from a free-kick on the right before curling a closer set-piece around the wall to test goalkeeper Ian Walker.

But in between it was Alan Rogers who came closest to an early opener.

The former Foxes full-back embarked on a jinking run down the right in the 16th minute that took him all the way into the area before steering a shot towards the far corner that Walker did well to stop.

Leicester were struggling to impose themselves on the game but that was to change dramatically as the half wore on.

The Foxes gradually upped the pace and Gareth Williams spurned a glorious chance after 29 minutes when he blasted wide from Kenton's clever cut-back.

Then David Connolly's 20-yard effort was deflected away by Wes Morgan for a corner before Dabizas' header from the resulting flag kick was cleared off the line by Rogers.

The hosts were now in full flow and Connolly went close with a shot from just outside the area while Keith Gillespie came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock three minutes later with his right-footed scorcher.

But just as Craig Levein's men looked to be cruising, Taylor popped up for his 10th of the season - heading home from Rogers' left-wing cross.

Undeservedly behind, Leicester continued to force the pace after the break and with 50 minutes gone Williams' flashing header was tipped over by Paul Gerrard before seven minutes later Nalis' crashing shot smacked off the post.

Alan Maybury then sent a 20-yarder wide, while Connolly had a close-range effort blocked, but Leicester simply could not find a way through.

With time running out Nalis thumped another long-range effort over the crossbar while Mark de Vries shot past the post.

Then three minutes into injury time even goalkeeper Walker ventured forward from a corner to throw his weight behind the search for an equaliser but it was all to no avail as Forest held on.

Leicester Walker, Kenton, Dabizas, Heath (Wright 77), Maybury (Hughes 87), Gillespie, Nalis, Williams, Tiatto, Connolly, de Vries.

Subs Not Used: McCarthy, Stearman, Hirschfeld.

Nottm Forest Gerrard, Morgan, Melville, Doig, Curtis, Friio (Evans 56), Powell, Commons (Harris 90), Rogers (Perch 70), Dobie, Taylor.

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Thompson.

Booked: Dobie, Powell.

Goals: Taylor 41.

Att: 27,277

Ref: R Beeby (Northamptonshire).