Match ends, Birmingham City 0, Nottingham Forest 0.
BirminghamBirmingham City0Nottm ForestNottingham Forest0
Birmingham City were held to their fourth consecutive home draw by 10-man Nottingham Forest as they remain in the bottom half of the Championship.
Striker Nikola Zigic missed an excellent first-half chance leaving Birmingham without a home league win since early October.
Nottingham Forest, who have drawn four of their last five matches, had Darius Henderson sent off late on.
The striker had only been on the field for eight minutes.
Birmingham enjoyed more of the game than Forest but failed to capitalise upon several good chances despite some impressive play by youngsters Jesse Lingard and Oliver Lee.
The hosts went closest to a goal in the opening 20 minutes when Tom Adeyemi's looping header from a Chris Burke corner dropped on the back netting.
Forest goalkeeper Karl Darlow saved Kyle Bartley's header with his legs before pushing away a dangerous left footed, dipping shot from Burke.
And the Blues should have taken the lead when Zigic inexplicably missed Burke's head-high cross from just a few yards in front of goal.
After a bright start start to the second half, the visitors again found themselves under pressure and needed a tackle by Jack Hobbs to cut out the goal scoring threat of Burke.
The game ended on a sour note with Henderson's reckless tackle on Robinson and resulting red card.
Birmingham manager Lee Clark:
"It was a good point. It was always going to be tough but I thought my players gave everything. They were committed and never gave in.
"Some of the football was excellent and their keeper had to make two or three great saves.
"I could not fault the players. They produced a fantastic performance. In the first half Burke and (Paul) Caddis were very impressive.
"It was probably one of our most fluent home performances and Olly Lee had a big say in this display."
Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies:
"I thought we played a lot of good football. We have to be more clinical and must add more fire power in the next transfer window. That has always been the plan from the very first day.
"I thought it was a very good point. It's the third (consecutive) clean sheet, against a side which has not lost in six games.
"You know you always face a competitive match at Birmingham. They make it difficult for you but great credit to the team. They worked really hard and in the end it was a really good point."
Line-ups
Birmingham
Formation 4-5-1
- 1RandolphBooked at 87mins
- 31Caddis
- 5BartleyBooked at 58mins
- 6Burn
- 4RobinsonBooked at 83mins
- 7Burke
- 24Adeyemi
- 9LingardSubstituted forMcLeanat 80'minutes
- 20LeeBooked at 90mins
- 22ShinnieSubstituted forGrayat 60'minutes
- 19Zigic
Substitutes
- 8Mullins
- 12Novak
- 13Doyle
- 17Reilly
- 29Brown
- 33Gray
- 35McLean
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Darlow
- 15Halford
- 16Lascelles
- 25Hobbs
- 3HardingBooked at 27minsSubstituted forLichajat 45'minutes
- 24VaughanSubstituted forChalobahat 69'minutes
- 12Mackie
- 10Lansbury
- 11ReidBooked at 83mins
- 39AbdounSubstituted forHendersonat 74'minutesBooked at 82mins
- 31Cox
Substitutes
- 2Lichaj
- 7Chalobah
- 9Henderson
- 18Jara
- 21Paterson
- 27Derbyshire
- 29de Vries
- Referee:
- Robert Madley
- Attendance:
- 23,497
Match Stats
Home TeamBirminghamAway TeamNottm Forest
- Possession
- Home42%
- Away58%
- Shots
- Home16
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Birmingham City 0, Nottingham Forest 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tom Adeyemi (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Paul Caddis with a cross.
Booking
Oliver Lee (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Jamie Mackie (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Oliver Lee (Birmingham City).
Post update
Attempt missed. Nikola Zigic (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Chris Burke with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Jack Hobbs.
Booking
Darren Randolph (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Jamie Mackie (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Darren Randolph (Birmingham City).
Post update
Foul by Henri Lansbury (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Aaron McLean (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Andy Reid (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Paul Robinson (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card.
Dismissal
Darius Henderson (Nottingham Forest) is shown the red card.
Post update
Foul by Darius Henderson (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Paul Robinson (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Aaron McLean replaces Jesse Lingard.
Post update
Foul by Henri Lansbury (Nottingham Forest).
