Tommy Miller's second half penalty grabbed the Blues a point at bottom-of-the-table Nottingham Forest after Alan Quinn had been tripped in the box six minutes after half-time. Garath McCleary had put the home side ahead in the first half.

Town made three changes from the team which drew 2-2 with Swansea on Saturday, Tommy Miller, Veliche Shumulikoski and Owen Garvan coming on for David Norris, Ivan Campo and Jon Stead as the Blues switched to 4-5-1 with Pablo Counago up front.

The home side had the ball in the net in the fourth minute, but McCleary was offside. The same player shot wide three minutes later in what was a nervy start from both teams.

Town were enjoying most of the possession but failed to create anything other than a few charged down shots from distance until Jon Walters took the ball on a few touches and unleashed a superb dipping 30-yard strike which cannoned off the bar and to safety.

Goalmouth action was rare at both ends, but Forest were getting some joy with balls over the top for the pacy Nathan Tyson and McCleary to chase.

On 33 Richard Wright was quickly off his line to block from Paul Anderson as the Tricky Trees broke quickly, Richard Naylor putting the loose ball out of play from inside the six-yard box. From the resultant corner, the home side went in front. The ball was cleared to the edge of the box from where McCleary hit a low shot through a crowd of players, before catching Alan Quinn and nestling in the net.

Two minutes later, Tyson had the ball in the net again, but the assistant referee's flag had been raised.

In injury time, the anonymous Andrew Cole was yellow-carded for a foul on Tommy Miller.

The half had passed largely without notable incident. Town in particular had created very little aside from Jon Walters's long distance effort. Richard Wright had been forced into making one save and had had little chance on the goal, bit otherwise had similarly rarely been troubled.

Town had enjoyed much of the possession but all too often lost their way midway inside the Forest half, prompting a quick and occasionally dangerous break from the home side.

The second half started with an early injury to Forest's Joel Lynch. Alan Quinn struck the game's first shot after the full-back's lengthy spell of treatment, but the ball flew over.

On 51 Quinn won Town their first penalty of 2008/09, having won innumerable spotkicks during pre-season. The Irishman was found on the left of the area by Garvan, Paul Anderson clipping Quinn just inside the area. Referee Graham Laws had little doubt and there were few protests.

Tommy Miller stepped up to keep his 100% penalty record, hitting a low kick to Camp's left, the keeper managing to get a hand to the ball.

Town began to look like a more confident side with Garvan playing almost as a second striker. David Wright made a rare foray forward and curled a shot over the bar from the edge of the box when he should have done better.

As on Saturday, the Blues gradually handed the impetus back to the opposition, who had by now also moved to a five-man midfield. In the 69th minute Chris Cohen hit a shot straight at Richard Wright. On 71 Kevin Lisbie replaced Pablo Counago.

A minute later, Nathan Tyson got away from Richard Naylor on the right of the Town area but Richard Wright was out quickly to save. Jon Stead took over from Veliche Shumulikoski for the final 14 minutes, although Alan Quinn initially made his way off due to the fourth official holding up the number 25 rather than 26.

David Wright was booked for a foul on Anderson, prior to Danny Haynes replacing Quinn for the closing moments.

Forest had most of the ball in the late stages but lost possession too easily and failed to seriously threaten, while the Blues looked to catch the home side on the break with the pace of Haynes and Lisbie. Aside from a penalty appeal when Owen Garvan appeared to be tripped inside the area, neither side created anything of note.

At the final whistle, the home fans booed, a reaction not a million miles from that of the away support.

A draw was probably the right result with neither side doing enough to warrant a win. Aside from the penalty, Forest keeper Lee Camp wasn't required to make a save, while the home side forced Wright into a couple of stops but little more.

Defensively, Town looked nervous with the back four all uncomfortable in possession with the Forest closing them down quickly. As in most games, Town had spells when they were on top, but as so often all too fleetingly.

Town: R Wright, Volz, D Wright, Naylor, McAuley, Garvan, Miller, Shumulikoski (Stead 76), Quinn (Haynes 90), Walters, Counago (Lisbie 71). Unused: Supple, Bruce. Att: 19,455.

Photo: Action Images

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