David Healy's strike in extra time fired Sunderland into the Carling Cup third round as Roy Keane recorded his first cup win as a manager against his former club Nottingham Forest.
Visiting striker Djibril Cisse came closest in the first half as he cut through Forest's defence and fired against the post.
Robert Earnshaw put the Championship side ahead with a superb free-kick on the hour mark but Phil Bardsley forced the game into extra time from close range late on.
Summer signing Healy then slotted home before Luke Chambers struck the crossbar for the hosts.
The Reds' only change was Matt Thornhill in for on-loan Manchester United winger Lee Martin, who avoids becoming cup-tied.
Sunderland handed a debut to Pascal Chimbonda while Cisse earned his first start since his summer move from Marseille following his winner in the 2-1 victory at Tottenham on Saturday.
Cisse had first effort of the game when he cut in from the right but his powerful strike went over the hosts' bar.
Danny Collins then had a genuine chance to break the deadlock as he met Andy Reid's cross, but the centre-back failed to get his effort on target.
Forest then began to get a grip on the game which resulted in a fine chance for Julian Bennett when he latched onto Matt Thornhill's cross, but the midfielder lacked composure as he failed to keep his header down.
Cisse then came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when he broke through the Forest defence and fired a strike against the post.
Reid fired a free-kick into the box which Daryl Murphy managed to get a strong header on, but the Irishman was denied by a reflex save from Forest stopper Paul Smith, who tipped the effort around the post.
As Forest looked to regain their momentum they were hit on the break again with Dean Whitehead beating the offside trap and running through, only for Smith to deny him with another fine save with six minutes of the first half remaining.
After the break Earnshaw came painfully close to putting the finishing touches onto Thornhill's dangerous cross in the 57th minute but the ball bounced harmlessly wide.
A cynical foul from Nyron Nosworthy on Earnshaw just outside the area provided the perfect opportunity for the Wales striker to make it four goals in five games and he made no mistake, firing the ball into the top right-hand corner on the hour mark.
Forest substitute Nathan Tyson then looked to make an immediate impact when he got ahead of Chimbonda, but the former Spurs right-back made a last ditch challenge before Saturday's match-winner against Watford could release the trigger.
But Sunderland got their equaliser with just three minutes of normal time remaining when a shot from substitute Liam Miller was parried out by Smith to Diouf, who fired a shot in from an acute angle for Bardsley to send the ball home from close range to send the match into extra time.
Sunderland then went ahead three minutes into extra-time when Smith parried Reid's shot and Healy reacted quickest before making no mistake in opening his account as a Sunderland player.
Forest battled hard to find an equaliser but failed to work visiting goalkeeper Craig Gordon in the first half of extra time.
But it was all Forest after the break and Luke Chambers was gifted the perfect opportunity to level but his free header came crashing back off the crossbar.
Teams
Nottm Forest Smith, Chambers, Morgan, Breckin, Bennett, Perch,Guy Moussi (Sinclair 108), Thornhill (Cole 95),McCleary (Tyson 79), Earnshaw, Cohen.
Subs Not Used: Roberts, Moloney, Heath, Reid.
Booked: Cohen, Bennett.
Goals: Earnshaw 60.
Sunderland Gordon, Chimbonda, Nosworthy, Collins, Bardsley,Malbranque (Miller 19), Whitehead (Leadbitter 57), Reid,Murphy (Healy 62), Diouf, Cisse.
Subs Not Used: Ward, Edwards, Higginbotham, Stokes.
Booked: Healy, Chimbonda.
Goals: Bardsley 86, Healy 93.
After Extra Time
Att: 9,198
Ref: Iain Williamson (Berkshire).
