Town and Forest remain level at the break but with the home side believing they ought to have been awarded a penalty.

Boss Mick McCarthy named the same side which started last week’s 2-1 home victory over Huddersfield.

The Blues included former Forest men Luke Chambers and David McGoldrick in his XI, while another former Tricky Tree Paul Anderson was on the bench along with Scott Loach, who was with their academy after a spell with the Blues’ youth set-up. Ex-Town left-back Dan Harding started for the home side.

Town started the brighter, Daryl Murphy forcing what should have been an early corner when chasing a ball down the middle, then in the fifth minute McGoldrick cut in from the left and sent in a low cross which Forest keeper Karl Darlow claimed.

On-loan Chelsea midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah struck the home side’s first shot from 20 yards in the ninth minute but failed to test Dean Gerken.

McGoldrick hit a deflected effort over from 25 yards on 12, then from the resultant Aaron Cresswell corner Murphy nodded Christophe Berra’s nod back across goal beyond Darlow but wide.

On 14 Nouble powerfully brought the ball forward before hitting a shot which Darlow could only parry away, Harding slamming the loose ball behind. Simon Cox was booked before the corner could be taken for an attempted trip on the Blues’ striker.

At the other end, Gerken saved Djamal Adboun’s 20-yard effort, then Andy Reid powerfully volleyed well wide with chances now coming at both ends.

Forest believed they should have been awarded a penalty in the 18th minute when Cox took the ball round Gerken as he broke into the area before going to ground.

Referee Scott Mathieson waved away the protests with Cox appearing to have been going to ground prior to receiving any contact from the Blues keeper, even if there was any. However, on another occasion, another referee may well have pointed to the spot.

Home manager Billy Davies was as convinced as the home crowd that a penalty should have been awarded and made his point at length to the linesman soon after.

Town were coming under increasing pressure and on 22 Tommy Smith blocked from Cox and then Gerken saved well from Jamie Mackie.

The Blues keeper made an even more impressive stop, tipping Cox’s flicked header on to the bar when the Irish international seemed certain to put his side in front. Soon after, Chalobah shot wide from distance.

McGoldrick hit a low shot which Darlow claimed low to his left as the half moved into injury time with the earlier Forest pressure having relented and the Blues having weathered the storm.

Having started brightly and having had a decent chance when Murphy headed wide, the Blues has subsequently spent much of the half under pressure and might well have found themselves behind.

Whether Cox tried too hard to win a penalty or otherwise, Town could count themselves fortunate that they didn’t find themselves conceding a spotkick and losing keeper Gerken to a red card.

The former Colchester man was in fine form in the minutes after that incident, making several important saves to keep the scoreline level at the break.

Nottingham Forest: Darlow, Halford, Lascelles, Hobbs, Harding, Chalobah, Mackie, Lansbury, Reid (C), Abdoun, Cox. Subs: De Vries, Lichaj, Jara, Paterson, Majewski, Derbyshire, Henderson.

Town: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Skuse, Hyam, Tunnicliffe, Murphy, Nouble, McGoldrick. Subs: Loach, Mings, Tabb, Hunt, Edwards, Anderson, Graham. Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire). Att:

Photo: Action Images

parhamblue added 16:59 - Dec 14 and ..... level at full-time! I make that 7 unbeaten away games, 10 points from last 12. Who wouldn't take that?
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