Although both sides started this game with clear intent to find an early goal, actually creating anything clear cut was proving to be a problem.
Now desperate in their efforts to avoid an instant return to the Championship, Ipswich came as close as anyone to finding an early opener when Omari Hutchinson whistled an effort narrowly over the crossbar.
Indeed, the first shot on target of the game took a little over 30 minutes to arrive, and even when it did, Chris Wood’s header was powered straight into the grateful hands of Alex Palmer.
That did, however, seem to be the incentive Forest needed to put their foot to the floor and finally open the scoring. Callum Hudson-Odoi’s delivery into the area caused bedlam in the Ipswich box, and Nikola Milenković reacted quickest to thump the ball into the roof of the net.
As the old footballing cliche goes, goals came like London buses, and within seconds of the restart, Palmer was picking the ball out of the back of his net once again.
A swift Forest counter attack saw Anthony Elanga drive down the right wing before curling into the far corner with his left foot.
An all too familiar scene was unravelling in this part of Suffolk, and having truly hit the self-implode button once again, the Tractor Boys found themselves three down before the break.
The two goalscorers combined this time, with Elanga latching onto Milenković’s hopeful punt forward and sliding beneath the on-rushing Palmer.
The second half was merely about salvaging some pride for Kieran McKenna’s side, and they did come close to restoring a touch of that when Liam Delap headed Leif Davis’ corner narrowly wide of the target.
The game being wrapped up by half-time probably played its part in Ipswich finding a late consolation through Jens Cajuste, who turned and found the top corner from the edge of the area.
Forest restored the three goal cushion soon after via Jota Silva rounding off a free-flowing counter attack.
And not even a consolation from George Hirst could put a dent in Forest’s celebrations, as they secured a huge three points that strengthened their grip on their top-four spot, while leaving Ipswich nine points adrift of safety with as many games remaining.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest)