Bristol City and Nottingham Forest shared the spoils in a cagey affair at Ashton Gate which lacked attacking quality.
In an evenly contested match that consisted of few chances for both sides, a man of the match performance from David James kept Forest vitally at bay in a match where it was evident neither could afford to lose.
Lewin Nyatanga took the place of James Wilson in City’s starting line up whilst Stephen Pearson came back into the side replacing Kalifa Cisse after Pearson was ineligible for last week’s trip to his parent club Derby County.
The opening exchanges resulted in very little goal mouth action with both teams content to keep possession without pushing forward to the extent where they would leave themselves vulnerable at the back.
Forest suffered a blow midway through the first half as Cole Skuse’s strong challenge forced centre half Joel Lynch to be withdrawn by boss Steve Cotterill. The challenge resulted in a booking for City’s full back which was inevitably costly as the previously dangerous Paul Anderson was looking to exploit the defender’s frailties.
Nearing the 30 minute mark Marcus Tudgay came close to breaking the deadlock. From Jonathan Greening’s corner, City’s frightening attempts at clearing the danger resulted in the ex-Sheffield Wednesday striker to force James into a point-blank save in front of the Ateyo stand.
Last week’s man of the match Martyn Woolford was first to muster up an attempt at Lee Camps goal just before the interval. Clever movement from Pearson allowed Skuse’s ball to be flicked into the path of Woolford, whose left footed shot from 20 yards, found the side netting. Forest were looking increasingly dangerous from Greening’s set pieces. The experienced midfielder’s deliveries caused the Robins problems at several instances in the first 45 minutes, providing a telling ball consistently.
The neutral would have hoped for both managers’ half time team talks to liven up the spectacle in the second period, but unfortunately the opening minutes reminisced the beginning of the match. Both teams were once again at ease in possession in their own half, with City’s central defenders Liam Fontaine and Nyatanga in particular keeping the ball at will, with little movement ahead of them.
Albert Adomah eventually found a way past Forest’s resilient left-back Greg Cunningham on the 59th minute. Adomah, arguably City’s player of the opening half of the season, had numerous efforts to beat the man on loan from Manchester City snuffed out previously, but this time, the Ghanaian fired wide of Camp’s left hand post after linking up well with Nicky Maynard.
Cunningham nearly gave Forest the lead as the game made its way into the last 20 minutes. His miss-placed cross was inches away from beating James as he frantically back-pedalled, but the 41-year-old used strong wrists to lift the ball over the bar.
James was under pressure again seven minutes later. Tudgay found himself alone in the box, however his powerfully accurate header, forced the ex-England international to roll back the years with an outstanding diving save just as the net was about to ripple.
The final moments finally forced the game into life. Inside stoppage time, where three additional minutes seemed surprisingly few, Adomah’s legs held out to find himself in space but this time his shot went agonisingly past Camp’s near post, with the west countrymen in the stands out of their seats.
McInnes’ second substitution, two minutes from time, resulted in a few quizzical looks around Ashton Gate. Replacing Maynard with holding midfielder Kalifa Cisse, the Scotsman looked to tighten up the midfield; just as previous substitute Brett Pitman was looking good in his link up play with City’s top scorer.
In a game which won’t last long in the memory of many, with neither side creating enough chances to deserve a win, a point apiece was the fair result.
City’s next Championship test comes on Boxing Day where they make the trip to Coventry, in belief that they can come home with a late Christmas present, at a ground where they are yet to be defeated.
Bristol City: James, Skuse, Fontaine, Nyatanga, McGivern, Adomah, Elliott, Kilkenny (Clarkson 90+2), Pearson, Woolford (Pitman 66), Maynard (Cisse 88)
Substitutes: Gerken, Wilson, Cisse, Clarkson, Pitman
Nott’m Forest: Camp, Cunningham, Chambers, Gunter, Lynch (Moloney 22), Anderson, McGugan, Greening, Majewski, Tudgay, Blackstock
Substitutes: Smith, Moloney, Reid, McGoldrick, Findley
Referee: Malone
Attendance: 13,121
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