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The loss at Vitality Stadium was Forest’s first since early December but they roared back to winning ways in front of their own supporters, registering their biggest-ever Premier League victory against the sorry Seagulls.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side took a 12th-minute lead when Lewis Dunk inadvertently turned Morgan Gibbs-White’s low cross into his own net from close range.
Gibbs-White doubled the host’s advantage with a glancing header from Anthony Elanga’s corner, and it was 3-0 just after the half-hour mark when Wood nodded home Elanga’s cross for his 15th Premier League goal of the season – his most in a single campaign in the competition.
Brighton were unlucky not to score themselves before half-time, Yankuba Minteh shooting straight at Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels in a one-on-one and Danny Welbeck’s effort failing to cross the goalline after striking the underside of the crossbar.
Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler made a triple half-time change in an effort to stem the flow of Forest attacks, but Wood tapped home another Elanga delivery to make it 4-0 after 64 minutes.
And just five minutes later, Tariq Lamptey wrestled Gibbs-White to the ground at a Forest corner to give the New Zealand striker a golden opportunity to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot.
The 33-year-old sent Bart Verbruggen the wrong way to make it 5-0 and became the first Forest player to score a hat-trick at home since Nigel Clough in December 1987 against QPR.
Wales full-back Neco Williams then made it six after latching on to a loose ball deep inside the area.
There was still time for Jota Silva to get in on the act, firing home a low shot from Verbruggen’s misplaced pass in added time.
The win lifts Forest level on points with second-placed Arsenal – who play Manchester City on Sunday – while Brighton …
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