McIndoe misery spares Forest

McIndoe: Penalty woe

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Nottingham Forest were held to a 2-2 draw by Bristol City on Saturday, despite twice taking the lead.

A thrilling contest at Ashton Gate could have been much worse for the Reds, though, as Michael McIndoe saw an injury-time penalty saved by Lee Camp.

Joe Garner and Nathan Tyson had fired Forest in front either side of half-time but on each occasion City responded with strikes with Marvin Elliott and Liam Fonatine.

City manager Gary Johnson named the same side that defeated Southampton 1-0 at St Mary's in their previous outing, although there was a place on the bench for Stern John, who was denied permission to play against his parent club last weekend.

Forest were also unchanged from their 1-1 draw with Birmingham, with Garner and Tyson continuing up front in the absence of the injured Rob Earnshaw.

City started the game brightly and McIndoe wasted a great chance to put them ahead after just six minutes when he dragged the ball wide from six yards.

Forest then went ahead against the run of play after 11 minutes as Tyson sprung down the wing and delivered a fine cross which was duly converted by Garner.

Dele Adebola lifted a shot over the crossbar from close range and Brian Wilson fired wide from distance as the hosts attempted to get back on level terms.

Tyson then went close to grabbing a second for Forest shortly before the half-hour mark when he fired wide from 12 yards.

Deserved

City grabbed a deserved equaliser seven minutes before the break when Elliott's long-range thunderbolt fizzed in off the underside of the crossbar.

The hosts were forced into a change at the break, with Cole Skuse replacing the injured John McCombe.

Forest then took the lead for a second time within two minutes of the restart as the impressive Tyson outpaced the City defence before coolly slotting the ball past Adriano Basso.

The Robins had a golden chance to equalise shortly afterwards, but Elliott ballooned his close-range effort over the bar from Lee Johnson's cross.

Camp was forced into a neat save to maintain Forest's lead after 53 minutes when Elliott got on the end of a Johnson free-kick from the left.

John and Nicky Maynard came on for City as they threw men forward in search of another equaliser, while Carl Fletcher replaced Matt Thornhill for Forest.

Fontaine then dragged the hosts level for a second time with 10 minutes remaining, firing the ball through a crowded penalty area after Forest had failed to clear McIndoe's corner.

Basso made a magnificent stop to deny Chambers soon after as Forest threatened to snatch a third and Camp made a fine stop at the other end to deny John.

With time running out, McIndoe was given the opportunity to secure all three points for the Robins following Luke Chambers' foul on Stern John, but Camp tipped his spot-kick around the post to earn the visitors a point.