Famara Diedhiou scored the only goal as the visitors earned a fourth straight win The result leaves City five points ahead of Forest just outside the play-offs Forest have now won just one of their last nine matches in all competitions
By Joe Bernstein for MailOnline
Published: 18:40 GMT, 19 January 2019 | Updated: 20:32 GMT, 19 January 2019
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Somewhere up there, Brian Clough will be beaming with pride, but a little frustrated. Cloughie's first game as Forest manager featured Martin O'Neill in a 1-0 FA Cup win at Tottenham, and he loved the idea of his former player returning to the City Ground as boss.
Saturday was that day, and O'Neill was given a hero's reception as he was introduced to a sold-out crowd.
It all pointed to a fairy tale homecoming as the tracksuited 66-year-old Northern Irishman waved to fans before kick-off, but football is rarely sentimental and Bristol City were worthy winners courtesy of Famara Diedhiou's second-half goal.
Martin O'Neill's first game as Nottingham Forest manager was spoiled by Bristol City
O'Neill hopped about his technical area and waved his arms around like a man 20 years younger but it was no substitute for quality on the pitch.
It took Forest more than an hour to register their first effort on target from Yohan Benalouane and were sliced open after 70 minutes when Andreas Weimann, who was given his debut at Aston Villa by O'Neill set up Diedhiou to score.
Forest are now seven points off the play-offs and O'Neill's ambition, stated in his programme notes, to 'rectify' their 20-year absence from the Premier League looks a long way off, let alone challenging for the League title and European Cup he won as a player.
Famara Diedhiou fired Bristol City scored the only goal at the City Ground after 70 minutes
He said after the game: 'The reception I got was quite emotional, I must admit. I thought we could get momentum early on in the game but I didn't get that at all.
'It might have been a combination of things, players were anxious to impress
