Town stretched their unbeaten away run to six games as they drew 0-0 with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Forest were unhappy not to be awarded a first-half penalty when striker Simon Cox went to ground as he tried to take the ball past Dean Gerken, who made a number of impressive saves for the Blues, who also had chances.

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 Abdoun’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 Abdoun played in Cox, who 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. However, plenty of referees would 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.

Chalobah fluffed an early second half chance for the home side, missing his header as a Reid freekick came in from the right.

The Blues had Gerken to thank again in the 59th minute when Reid sent in a brilliant ball from the left to Cox, who seemed certain to score until Gerken blocked at point-blank.

After Cresswell and Henri Lansbury were booked for a clash, the Town defender having reacted badly to a challenge, Gerken required treatment for a cut to the face, presumably having collided with Cox after the save.

Town were again coming under pressure with Chambers and then Berra blocking from Cox before Greg Halford headed wide from Abdoun’s corner.

McGoldrick shot wide for Town on 70, then three minutes later a spell of Blues passing on the left ended with Cresswell hitting a cross-shot wide.

Forest sub Henderson flicked a header to Gerken from a freekick in the 75th minute with the home side still having the better of the chances but not as dominant as they had been earlier in the half and with Town looking dangerous when coming forward.

On 78 Blues centre-half Berra brought the ball forward and exchanged passes with Nouble before unleashing a powerful strike from the edge of the area which Darlow blocked. Moments later, Hobbs headed Abdoun’s freekick from the left well over.

Town though had gained the upper hand going into the final 10 minutes and from a contentious corner — Reid was fortunate to stay out of the book for his protests — Berra’s header struck Nouble when appearing goalbound.

As the game moved into four minutes of injury time Tyrone Mings replaced McGoldrick, who was given a mixed reception by his old fans, while Chambers had received boos throughout.

Neither side was able to break the deadlock in the additional minutes and both had to settle for a hard-fought point.

A draw probably wasn’t an unfair result with both teams having had chances and with the two keepers each having made a number of decent saves.

After three wins on the trot an away draw at Forest - which sees Town drop to 10th, three points from the play-off zone - is by no means a bad result as the Blues go into the busy Christmas period.

Nottingham Forest: Darlow, Halford, Lascelles, Hobbs, Harding, Chalobah (Jara 90), Mackie (Henderson 68), Lansbury, Reid (c), Abdoun (Derbyshire 87), Cox. Unused: De Vries, Lichaj, Paterson, Majewski.

Town: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Skuse, Hyam, Tunnicliffe, Murphy, Nouble, McGoldrick (Mings 90). Unused: Loach, Tabb, Hunt, Edwards, Anderson, Graham. Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire). Att: 20,966 (Town: 1,144).

Photo: Action Images

Walk_the_Wark added 19:45 - Dec 14 I was at the game- any of you lot? And aside of Noubles chance he offered nothing. First touch awful. Murphy also missing. Forest weren't that great. We got away with a point- and off very lightly…. And 'WhoisJimmyJuan' you are certainly a moron.
0

runaround added 20:55 - Dec 14 A very good away point which keeps the positive run going. Now to try and end our home hoodoo versus Watford
0

KiwiTractor added 21:06 - Dec 14 Well done lads, great point. Am I right that our 3 midfielders don't get one mention in the match report? Did the game by-pass them?
0

essextractorboy93 added 21:25 - Dec 14 Forest is a really difficult place to go so I'm delighted with a point. Gerken, the back four and Nouble played well. Nouble was our main outlet I thought. Also bumped into Stephen Hunt on the train home!
0

Jimmy86 added 21:28 - Dec 14 essex tractorboy, I don't disbelieve you, but I find it strange that he wasn't on the team bus, if he was in the squad, which I believe he was.
0

blue added 21:51 - Dec 14 I would like to say a personal WD to GERKEN, HERO TODAY ! Well played the rest of the team , keep up the good work MC and all !!!!
0

essextractorboy93 added 21:53 - Dec 14 Yeah he was on the train. Must have been going to see family or something elsewhere I'm guessing.
0

SouthBucksBlue added 22:19 - Dec 14 @MickMcCarthy69 Great song! Have a thumb (although evidently not many agree)
0

blues1 added 22:30 - Dec 14 warwickblue, and others who seem to think that we were lucky with the penalty decision. the only person who was lucky was cox. gerken was nowhere near touching him, and he went down neway, for which he should have been cautioned, thus as it would have been his 2nd caution, would have been sent off. while congratulating the ref on getting the decision not to award the penalty, he then bottled it, as had he given the free kick for simulation he knew it would have meant sending cox off. Lansbury should also have gone. so, while, on the balansce of play as the game was, u couldn't have argued if forest had won, they could have been down to 9 players which may have allowed us the chance to take the 3 points

0

spanishblue added 23:31 - Dec 14 On the pen sorry weren't there but guys on radio thought it was and then had to say they were wrong so good riffing for a change really can't understand negatives from some of you lot. 12 months ago we were relegation fodder now we fast becoming yer worst nightmare to play against. One good result from playoff place. My case rests. Coyb good night all
0

Jimmy86 added 00:33 - Dec 15 just watched the football league show and its interesting to note we weren't on last, which makes a change, also dumb and dumber were under the impression it was a pen coz they thought there was contact, so dunno what angle they were looking at coz the commentator said it looked like cox was on his way down. BBC im afraid you suck!!!
0

Paddy39 added 08:35 - Dec 15 Walk the Walk, Naaridge are looking for you're kind of support. Before MM came to the club I said on here he is what we needed to stabilise us and I was laughed at, glad to see most of the laughing has stopped. Our football isn't always nice (so what) but the points keep going up. COYB's. Town 2 - 1 Watford.
0

warwickblue added 09:29 - Dec 15 blues1 - all I was really saying about the penalty decision was that, at the time, it seemed far more of a cert than the one that had been given the week before. I'm glad the ref got it right but TV and radio both say it was a very close call and I think a single goal either way yesterday would have made the difference, so a critical decision in the match.
0

Fatboy added 11:12 - Dec 15 Berra's late header actually came back off Nouble's head.
0

Ipswichbusiness added 12:20 - Dec 15 When you play away at a promotion contender, it is more important to be effective than pretty. I wasn't at the match, but a draw and a clean sheet suggests that we were effective. The next four games are important as they are the sort that serious promotion contenders win.
0

blueboy1981 added 13:30 - Dec 15 Good point Yes - but lets not get too excited about it - if we REALLY mean business these are the places we have to go to and come away with a point at the very least. Anyone would think we'd won the Championship with some of the comments on here. This is what we HAVE to be capable of doing - make no mistake. Fire away with the minus button - all you who know no different but to do so - and expect very little. COYB - good point - no more, no less.

0

blueboy1981 added 13:32 - Dec 15 ....... Gerks proved his undoubted potential today - GOOD COACHING - ia all that's required for him to become a top keeper.
0

blueboy1981 added 13:33 - Dec 15 ....... should read 'is' .
0

Jaamo11 added 14:07 - Dec 15 Anypne else see the links with Frimpong to us in the papers? Thougths?
0

warktheline added 14:44 - Dec 15 h32 why have you changed your user name?aka blueboy1981.
0

ronnyd added 15:45 - Dec 15 Frimpong, another trouble maker by all accounts. We have moved a couple of those on so why sign another one, probably just paper talk anyway.
0

Jimmy86 added 16:19 - Dec 15 Can anyone post a link on the frimpong story?? Mick did have him on loan at wolves and if he can curb his discipline he would be good in our midfield
0

blueboy1981 added 17:11 - Dec 15 Warkthe line - not the case - I have to admit to sharing many of his views, and maybe posting style to some degree. In fact I miss H32's posts - always good reading, rational,and straight to the point. Said it as he saw it, please or offend. Nothing wrong in that - and isn't that what a forum is for ? H32 if you're still out there and reading - give us a reply.
0

ian_marshall added 18:11 - Dec 15 R.e Frimpong
0

ian_marshall added 18:12 - Dec 15
0

Blogs 296 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls