Michail Antonio’s injury time goal prevented the Blues from claiming their first win at the City Ground in 15 years as Nottingham Forest and Town played out an entertaining 2-2 draw. Daryl Murphy had twice put the Blues in front with Robert Tesche having grabbed the home side’s first equaliser.

Jonny Williams replaced Teddy Bishop in an otherwise Town side otherwise unchanged from the midweek draw at Sheffield Wednesday, again utilising three strikers.

Ex-Forest duo Luke Chambers and David McGoldrick also started for the Blues, but Paul Anderson missed out on a place in the 18 due to the hamstring injury he suffered in training on Friday.

Town, wearing their home shirt with blue shorts, started brightly and forced an early corner on the right, Murphy heading Williams’s flag-kick into Forest keeper Karl Darlow’s arms.

The home side threatened for the first time when Chris Burke cut the ball back from the right, then went even closer a minute later. After a freekick from the right had been cleared out to the left, Antonio sent over a cross to the far post which skimmed off Matty Fryatt’s head, on to the post and out of play.

The Blues had another fortunate escape on nine when Henri Lansbury’s low left-wing corner avoided everyone in the box before being seen out for a throw by Cole Skuse.

Town went close to breaking the deadlock on 12 after Tyrone Mings had crossed from the left. McGoldrick’s shot was blocked but Forest only half cleared and Sammon played Williams’s pass into the path of Murphy on the right but the Irishman blazed over when he should have done better.

It had been an entertaining and open start to the game. On 14 Berra nodded a Williams freekick wide, then at the other end Mings did well to get a toe in to dispossess Britt Assombalonga as the ex-Peterborough striker broke into the area.

Despite that opportunity, Town were gradually getting on top and in the 19th minute they went in front via one of the goals of the season.

Skuse sent a long ball down the right to Murphy, who took the ball down and inside full-back Eric Lichaj before bringing it into the area past Kelvin Wilson. He first feinted to shoot before smashing a left-foot strike into the corner of Darlow’s net for his fifth goal of the season and probably his best for the Blues.

Town continued to push after the goal, Darlow claiming a Parr header from another excellent Skuse ball, then Sammon ran into trouble on the left before he could feed McGoldrick having won the ball from Jack Hunt on halfway.

Forest were forced to replace Wilson with Jamaal Lascelles in the 29th minute, the centre-half having undergone treatment earlier in the half, then four minutes later Jay Tabb replaced Luke Hyam, who had been suffering with a knock prior to the game.

Chambers hooked a shot to Darlow on 40 before Williams was presented with a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 when Lansbury under-hit a back-pass to Darlow. However, the Wales international’s first touch allowed Michael Mancienne to get back to dispossess him.

Williams required treatment after a challenge with Lansbury just prior to the fourth official’s board announcing four additional minutes, but was OK to carry on.

The Blues found themselves somewhat under the cosh during injury time and shortly before the whistle Parr diverted Hunt’s right-wing cross behind ahead of Burke.

From the resultant corner Assombalonga claimed for a foul by Chambers, who in turn felt he’d been fouled, but referee James Linington brought what had been a lively half to an end.

Town, who had played some of their best football of the season, deserved their lead at the break having had one or two other decent chances in addition to Murphy’s excellent goal.

Forest had also had their moments, coming closest when Fryatt hit the post, but the Blues’ defence, and the outstanding Mings in particular, had held out.

Neither side created anything significant in the opening minutes after the restart. Parr blocked from Assombalonga on 52, Forest having broken quickly after Mings had been unable to find space to shoot on the edge of their box.

Five minutes later Lansbury picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Williams.

The home side were looking threatening and the Blues were increasingly finding themselves under pressure and on 59 only a fabulous Gerken save prevented Forest from getting on terms.

Hunt cut the ball back from the right and the Town keeper did superbly to stop Michail Antonio’s close-range effort low to his right. Two minutes later, Williams, who looked to be feeling the effects of Lansbury’s earlier foul, was replaced by Bishop.

In the 63rd minute the Forest pressure paid dividends. A mix-up between Chambers and Parr midway inside the Blues half saw Assombalonga break into the area on the left before the Norwegian full-back got back to stab behind.

However, from Burke’s corner on the left, Tesche nodded into the net at the far post. The goal had been coming with Forest having been very much on top since the break.

Stuart Pearce’s men continued to press Town back, Antonio shooting wide from the right and Burke curling an effort only just past the post having cut in from the other flank.

But on 71 the Blues went back in front with Murphy again the man on the scoresheet. Mings and Tab exchanged passes on the left before the full-back sent over a cross and Murphy powered a brilliant header beyond Darlow and into the net for his sixth goal of the season.

Forest seemed momentarily stunned to have gone behind again and a minute later McGoldrick found space to hit a low 25-yard effort which Darlow did well to hold on to.
The home side were within an inch or so of getting back on terms once again in the 74th minute when Antonio was threaded in on goal and rounded Gerken but Berra was on hand to clear off the line. The loose ball eventually fell to Assombalonga but Gerken had got back to block and the striker’s effort flew over the bar.

Tommy Smith replaced McGoldrick as the Blues switched to a five-man backline for the final quarter of an hour, then five minutes later ex-Blue Dan Harding was introduced by the home side.

Lansbury shot over as the game moved into its final 10 minutes, then Antonio, who had gone to ground very easily inside the penalty area on a number of occasions but without impressing referee Linington, lashed over as Forest continued to search for the equaliser but with the Blues holding firm and Berra a dominant presence.

But deep into five minutes of injury time, Forest levelled for the second time, again from a corner. Lansbury sent the ball to the far post and Antonio powered home much to the relief of the home support.

Pearce’s men continued to push in the remaining minutes but were unable to grab what would have been an undeserved winner.

Forest, still unbeaten in the league, will feel a draw was the least they deserved after dominating the second half, but the late equaliser was tough on the Blues - the better side in the first period - who had defended stoutly after regaining the lead via Murphy’s second excellent goal of the game.

While manager Mick McCarthy won’t be at all happy that his side conceded two goals from set pieces - on top of another at Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday - and let the lead slip so late on, he won’t be too disappointed to go into the international break on a run of seven games without a defeat and with Town in sixth in the table.

Forest: Darlow, Lichaj (Harding 81), Mancienne (c), Wilson (Lascelles 29), Hunt, Lansbury, Tesche, Antonio, Burke (Veldwijk 75), Fryatt, Assombalonga. Unused: De Vries, Harding, Osborn, Grant, Paterson.

Town: Gerken, Parr, Mings Chambers (c), Berra, Skuse , Hyam (Tabb 33), Sammon, Williams (Bishop 61), Murphy, McGoldrick (Smith 75). Unused: Bialkowski, Bru, Henshall, Bajner. Referee: James Linington (Newport, IOW). Att: 24,354 (Town: 1,672).

Photo: Action Images

Pip50 added 17:37 - Oct 5 I wish I had the optimism on here. We are punching above our weight have a wafer thin squad and a style and tactics that are 1970. I'd rather the dinosaur go now at least we can mug a tactician on the promise of play offs.
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Davesullivan65 added 17:37 - Oct 5 GERKS IS THE WEAK LINK I AM AFRAID
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DerbyBlue68 added 17:37 - Oct 5 Gutted to have conceded so late on, but still a great result against a club who have spent a lot of money. Still feel very positive about our team.
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Davesullivan65 added 17:38 - Oct 5 GERKS IS THE WEAK LINK I AM AFRAID
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afcfee added 17:40 - Oct 5 When we gonna see this other keeper
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blueboy1981 added 17:40 - Oct 5 .... please don't come on here and try to condone and defend the two goals we conceded - in anyone's book, they should have been prevented. You cannot give goals away like that - and be serious about success this season. It's something that needs correcting - other than that - some good stuff today, and things hopefully heading in the right direction. Let's push on - and mean 'real' business as the season progresses.

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afrodids added 17:42 - Oct 5 I would have taken a point before the game however got to say 2 points dropped really.why is it that we lose the ability to play football and keep possession when in a winning position. when Forest equalised the first time we started playing again scored a great team goal the reverted back to hoof ball inviting pressure we need to learn how to close games out. As for Gerken well I know he saved us a couple of times but he was at fault for both goals!! Anyway top 6 going into the International break is all good. Onwards and upwards

2

pazelle added 17:43 - Oct 5 6 of our 10 goals conceded this season have come direct from corners... Great point though!
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billlm added 17:44 - Oct 5 a fit Williams would have been 3 point they couldn't get the ball off him apart from when they fouled, he just ran out of gas
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RegencyBlue added 17:51 - Oct 5 Gerks is a good shot stopper but some of his basic handling needs work I'm afraid! Having said that if someone had offered me our current position at the start of the season I would have snapped their hand off!!
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TractorBeezer added 17:53 - Oct 5 We are all disappointed at conceding a late goal bur reflecting on the entire game, while it was winnable, a draw was probably a fair result. Two great goals from Murph. Mings was immense. Gerks made some vital saves...but we (including Gerks) need to work more on defending corners. The main highlight for me is how for significant portions of the game we really took the game to Forest and kept the pressure on them. We missed Williams though after they nobbled him. Overall, I am good with this result. We still have lots to look forward to..

3

HALLSJ added 17:55 - Oct 5 Gutted but a great three rdzukts Wigan, Sheff wed and Forest unbeaten in 7 great stuff boys
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blueboy1981 added 18:01 - Oct 5 blues1 ............ words fail me ..... where some of you are concerned.
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 18:02 - Oct 5 While I agree that Gerks missed the ball for the second goal he was screened off which was a good ploy by Forrest. Totally disagree that Skuse could have put the ball out for a throw, his body angle prevented that and he couldn't leave it with Forrest players running behind him. It was good defending. Dissapointing that we are leaking the odd goal from set plays but I can't remember us conceeding an open play goal for ages now, maybe 1 in the last 7 games?

2

blues1 added 18:05 - Oct 5 Iwasnt there as was unable to go today, and like many, would have taken a point before the match. and yes, its disappointing to let the lead slip right at the end. while I not there, I believe the goals did come form errors by gerks but don't believe he should be slagged off for this, hes saved us many more times this season than hes made mistakes. also, I cant believe no1 has commented on the fact that we invited pressure on ourselves due to mm bringing on smith in place of mcgoldrick. as soon as I saw that had happened I predicted that they would score. and sure enough, they did. maybe if we hadn't been under the pressure we were, then gerks wouldn't have made that error, I don't know how many times that mm will bring on an extra defender to protect a lead and us fail to do so before he realises that we simply cant do it. how many times in the past season and a bit have we let a lead slip after hes made such a substitution. something I feel he needs to address.but hey, still a great point from a game I wasn't really expecting to get nething from at all.

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afcfee added 18:08 - Oct 5 It's all very well saying what about the saves gerkens made but doesn't mean can virtually gift a goal every other game he is a good shot stopper but never look convinced when he comes of his line for it give the other guy a go
1

runningout added 18:09 - Oct 5 told myself not moan about the last two games, as we played okay.. 2 points from 6 just looks weak... Both keepers don't fill me with confidence... Mr Webster needs to give them a kick up the bottom
2

warktheline added 18:19 - Oct 5 Blueboy, everyone is entitled to an opinion, you of all people should accept that! Shame we didn't hold on for all 3 points, I had some wonderful post lined up for the anti mick posse. Never mind, we move on, comfortably placed in top 6.Mick has turned us into a tough cookie to crack....on the up boys, no doubt about that, and long may it continue.
4

oddball added 18:24 - Oct 5 This is turning into most exciting season for ipswich in a long time, murphy is on fire! Really enjoying it, well done boys great point, now to win our home games :-)
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blueboy1981 added 18:32 - Oct 5 ....... hopefully the focus for Training this week will based around - How to effectively Defend Set Pieces. Gerken is far too inconsistent to be a top Championship Keeper - capable of both outstanding saves at times - equally so guilty of complete capitulation. Again, good Coaching should be able to eradicate this if the aptitude is there with the Player.
2

Gingerblues added 18:41 - Oct 5 I think this game shows how far we have come but how are aren't the finished article. We attacked away from home against a good team and made them look ordinary in the first half. But if we are to get promoted we will need a reliability between the sticks. Gerks was a good find on a free and has done fairly well but there is no getting away from his lack of commanding his area. Yes he made a great save in the second half but he gifted them the equaliser when we needed a keeper to be strong and claim that ball.

3

blueboy1981 added 18:45 - Oct 5 warktheline ........... only goes to prove, that in the face of constant criticism, from some of you - how fair, structured, and considered are posts are. We don't chose to live in the false world - we state it as it is. Good or Bad.
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bluemikey100 added 18:47 - Oct 5 almost took forests home record and wigan lost only once in 5 against us so our attackin away form is very good and home form as well hope we dont go all defensive at home against blackburn
1

Lombokblue added 18:52 - Oct 5 I'm not bitter but If I was the referee I would have sent Antonio off after his eighth penalty area dive.
2

jas0999 added 18:54 - Oct 5 Before the game, I would have been pleased with a point, yet I now feel deflated. It's not right to blame individuals, because frankly, after the dark day of the Norwich defeat, who would have thought we would have gone unbeaten? Derby, Wigan, Wednesday and now Forest ... All good teams, have failed to beat us on their hone grounds. In the meantime, we have won all three home games. An excellent return. Yet, arguably we should have beaten Forest and Sheffield, whilst Birmingham away was a very winnable match earlier in the season. If we intend to challenge for promotion on a consistent basis this season, we will need to turn some of these draws into wins, because then you can afford to lose the odd game. I still wonder if the keepers are good enough. A decent one will win you an extra 8 or so points a season. An average one will cost you a couple of points. Not blaming Gerken by the way, just feel we are lacking a bit in that area.

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