Town's run of five home league games without a win came to an end as a James Perch own goal and a rare strike from David Wright helped them to a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest. Nathan Tyson pulled a goal back for the visitors late on.
Boss Jim Magilton made only one change from the side which drew 1-1 with Blackpool at the weekend, Alan Quinn coming into central midfield for Owen Garvan.
The demonstration against Magilton's management next to the statue of Sir Alf Ramsey prior to the game failed to gain significant support, while a second group of supporters assembled close by to shout in favour of the beleaguered Town manager.
There was almost an early scare for Town when Alex Bruce slipped on the edge of his own area, handing possession to Joe Garner. Fortunately, the Town defender recovered to clear his lines.
On six, Wes Morgan headed a freekick to Richard Wright, then Matt Thornhill struck a shot through to the Town keeper as the visitors created most of the early chances. The Blues were showing an alarming tendency to give the ball away in what was a nervy start, despite a more that usually positive crowd.
Town's first chance came on 10 when Civelli found Jon Stead on the edge of the area, but the frontman's effort was too weak to test Forest keeper Paul Smith.
Four minutes later, the Blues went in front. Tommy Miller swung in a dangerous freekick from midway inside the Forest half just to the left, and James Perch looped the ball over his keeper as he attempted to head clear.
The own goal was just the break Town needed and it instilled a bit of much needed belief. On 17 Civelli shot wide after being teed-up by Stead, then McAuley hit an effort on the turn wide.
Forest's Garner had the ball in the net on 20, but the strike was chalked off for a foul on Richard Wright.
Six minutes later, Jon Stead was booked for a late tackle on Perch, then on 43 his strike partner Pablo Couñago was also cautioned by referee Martin Atkinson for a foul. The Spaniard was becoming increasingly frustrated at the official's failure to spot various Forest defenders grabbing hold of his shirt.
Atkinson finally saw things Couñago's way a minute later when he showed Wes Morgan a yellow card for a foul on the Town frontman.
Tommy Miller shot wide in the final moments of a half which had been scrappy with neither side playing much decent football. The goal probably saved the Blues from being booed off, although the performance was marginally better than the display against Blackpool at the weekend.
The visitors came close to an equaliser a minute into the second period, Matt Thornhill hitting a low shot which Wright did well to stop low to his left, Ben Thatcher putting the loose ball behind.
Lewis McGugan struck a freekick straight at Wright, then the Town keeper stopped Tyson's cross-shot from the right as the Blues started the half slowly.
Couñago teed up Quinn on the edge of the area in the 52nd minute as Town started to take control, keeper Paul Smith saving well to his right. Moments later, Jon Walters replaced Danny Haynes on the Town right, the former England U19 international appearing to have picked up a hamstring problem.
On 56 a Richard Wright throw sent Walters away down the right, the sub playing a one-two with Couñago before hitting a shot well over when he ought to have done better.
The Blues added to their lead on the hour mark when Gareth McAuley spotted David Wright's run in from the right and played a sublime ball into his path. Wright took it into the area and beat Smith with a low shot to open his account for the season.
Garner hit a low shot through to Wright, then Couñago was unlucky not to add to Town's lead when his shot from close range was deflected over after good work from Stead on the right.
McAuley and Couñago both had efforts scraped off the line on 64 after a freekick into the box, then from a subsequent corner Alex Bruce headed across the face of goal.
Richard Wright pulled off a fantastic save in the 67th minute, somehow managing to claw McGugan's top-corner-bound shot over with one hand. The resultant corner flew across the Town six-yard box but with no one getting a touch.
David Norris replaced the tiring Civelli in the 74th minute, the Argentinian again having had some good moments but also having quiet spells.
The visitors pulled a goal back in the 76th minute, McAuley's attempt to clear Garath McCleary's cross striking Tyson, who slammed the loose ball past Wright.
Town largely sat back on their single-goal lead for the remaining minutes of the game. After Norris had picked up a booking for a foul, Stead was sent away down the left but Smith saved his shot.
Forest came agonisingly close to equalising with three minutes remaining when Lewis McGugan's shot deflected off a defender, hit the post and rebounded into the middle of the Town six-yard box with the goal gaping. Fortunately for the Blues, Gareth McAuley was the quickest to react with Tyson otherwise certain to score his second goal of the evening.
Owen Garvan came on for Couñago as the game moved into a somewhat inadequate four minutes of injury time, the Irishman slicing the game's final opportunity well wide after more good work from Stead.
Town had been better after the break, although by no means brilliant, but after the recent run of poor home results and the week's controversies a vintage display was always unlikely. It was more of a gutsy performance from the Blues with the likes of Quinn and Miller playing key roles in the midfield.
Town created more chances than in a number of home games of late and probably should have taken more of them. By the same token, Forest will feel they deserved more goals with Richard Wright outstanding in the Town goal with his save from McGugan in the second half from the very top drawer.
The result puts the Blues to within four points of Sheffield United in the final play-off place, albeit having played one game more. Two good results on the road at QPR and Preston could yet see Town's play-off hopes revived.
Town: R Wright, D Wright, Thatcher, McAuley, Bruce, Quinn, Miller, Haynes (Walters 54), Civelli (Norris 74), Couñago (Garvan 89), Stead. Unused: Supple, Balkestein. Att: 19,930.