Forest strikers would have to take the blame for this disastrous result as they squandered a handful of chances in both halves – two of them candidates for the miss of the season.
First it was David Johnson who scuffed his shot from only two yards, and then it was substitute Gareth Taylor who looped the ball over the bar from just six yards in front of an open goal.
In between new signing Neil Harris wasted two wonderful opportunities as the home side were running the away defence ragged.
In a breathtaking second half, both sides showed the best face of football by creating end to end stuff.
Four minutes after the interval, totally against the run of play, Sunderland found themselves in front when Stephen Elliott glanced a header past Paul Gerrard from a Liam Lawrence corner to celebrate in front of 5,000 Black Cats' supporters.
The hosts were soon back on track five minutes later when Thomas Myhre and Gary Breen failed to clear a long ball and it fell to Andy Reid, who chipped it sweetly into the net from 23 yards.
The home side were reduced to 10 men when Gregor Robertson was given his marching orders for a professional foul on Chris Brown, who was clean in on goal.
In the remaining minutes the Black Cats pushed forward in search of the all-important winner, and Stewart sent the away side faithful into orbit as he slotted the ball past Gerrard with a 13-yarder to keep his side in the promotion challenge.