Nottingham Forest got their League One promotion push back on track with a neatly crafted win over struggling Port Vale that fired them to the top of the table.
A first-half strike from Junior Agogo put Forest in the driving seat before a Lewis McGugan effort in the 67th minute killed off an attempted resurgence from the visitors.
The pressure had been on Colin Calderwood's side following their failure to beat relegation threatened Northampton last weekend, when they had missed a host of chances in a 2-2 draw.
But this time they produced the required cutting edge to heap more misery on Vale and edge themselves back into the promotion fray.
Vale should have taken the lead in the ninth minute after they broke with purpose from inside their own half, with Calum Willock sending an enticing cross to Luke Rodgers at the far-post, only for the striker to fire badly wide of the gaping goal.
Forest's best chance in the opening stages had come after Chris Cohen rolled Agogo into space on the right side of the box, but the Ghana international lashed a shot wide of the post.
Both teams were looking dangerous on the counter-attack, with Joe Anyon doing well to deny McGugan after the midfielder burst on to a through ball from Kris Commons, only to be denied as the keeper slid in bravely at his feet to block.
Commons turned creator twice in the space of a minute, twice sending in inch-perfect crosses for Nathan Tyson. The first saw the striker fail to muster much power from a floating ball into the box, but the second saw him flash a crisp effort narrowly wide.
It was no surprise then, when Forest finally took the lead in the 22nd minute, as Tyson turned creator. The striker rampaged down the right flank, with his pace taking him clear into space, before bending the ball across the face of goal for Agogo to sidefoot home.
Agogo should have added a second after being picked out by a Commons corner, but planted a downward effort wide of the post.
Vale too had their chances, but saw Keith Lowe send a looping header of his own narrowly over the bar.
It was Forest who were kicking themselves at not being further ahead at the interval however, after seeing Cohen fail to beat Anyon from five yards and Agogo send a low, driven effort onto the post.
Willock showed neat feet to engineer the room for a shot after the break, but arrowed the ball narrowly over the Forest goal.
And, after Ian Breckin gave away a free-kick on the right side of the Forest defence, Marc Laird smashed a spectacular volley against the post when the Reds defence failed to clear.
Forest finally got the second goal they craved, as Agogo danced into the box on the right before cutting the ball back into the path of McGugan, who finished simply with his left foot.
Vale came close following a mazy run from Dave McGoldrick, who was denied by a smart save from Paul Smith and should have done better when Luke Rodgers hit the sidenetting when clean through.
But Forest could also have had a third goal when substitute Grant Holt nipped between Mark McGregor and keeper Anyon to latch on to a fine ball from Commons, but saw his flick roll wide.