Match ends, Nottingham Forest 1, Blackburn Rovers 1.
Nottm ForestNottingham Forest1BlackburnBlackburn Rovers1
Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers all but secured their Championship safety after sharing a draw.
Dexter Blackstock put Forest ahead when he broke into the area before Danny Graham chipped over Dorus de Vries before half-time.
Both teams remain nine points clear of third bottom MK Dons, who drew 0-0 at Sheffield Wednesday, and have a vastly inferior goal difference.
Forest are 18 goals clear of MK Dons with Blackburn 22 goals clear.
The hosts' lead lasted only seven minutes to deny caretaker boss Paul Williams victory, as Forest's winless run stretched to eight games.
Home supporters were cheered by the sight of a 10-minute cameo from the returning Britt Assombalonga - his first outing in 14 months after a knee injury - but they left largely frustrated as their lack of a cutting edge cost them again.
Blackstock got a helping hand from Hope Akpan's sloppy pass 35 yards from goal, raced forward and hit a rather tame-looking shot past Jason Steele, who could only help it on its way into the net.
But Steele twice denied Henri Lansbury, with the Forest skipper also skimming the crossbar from distance.
Nottingham Forest caretaker boss Paul Williams:
"We created lots of chances and in the second half, only one team wanted to win the game. On another day we would have scored two or three more goals.
"We're getting there in the style of football we want to play with the lads we've got.
"I'm not frustrated, I'm pleased with the way the lads played tonight. With a bit more luck, the goals will start to come."
Blackburn manager Paul Lambert:
"It is a great place to come and play, the pitch is fantastic and I thought a draw was fair.
"We dominated the ball in the first half and there was a lot of plusses tonight.
"We hit the bar, they hit the bar and there wasn't really much in it."
Line-ups
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Vries
- 2Lichaj
- 5MillsBooked at 49mins
- 13Fox
- 3Jokic
- 32TescheSubstituted forAssombalongaat 84'minutes
- 22GardnerBooked at 76mins
- 15Mendes da GraçaSubstituted forBurkeat 73'minutes
- 10Lansbury
- 38Osborn
- 23Blackstock
Substitutes
- 8Cohen
- 9Assombalonga
- 24Vaughan
- 26Evtimov
- 29O'Grady
- 35Burke
- 42Worrall
Blackburn
Formation 4-3-3
- 30Steele
- 6Lowe
- 15Ward
- 5Hanley
- 4Kilgallon
- 21AkpanSubstituted forGomez Garcia-Pencheat 79'minutes
- 29EvansBooked at 75mins
- 26LenihanBooked at 76mins
- 28MahoneySubstituted forBennettat 71'minutes
- 12GrahamBooked at 42minsSubstituted forBrownat 84'minutes
- 10Marshall
Substitutes
- 9Brown
- 14Gomez Garcia-Penche
- 17Williamson
- 22Duffy
- 31Bennett
- 33Raya
- 35Jackson
- Referee:
- Chris Kavanagh
- Attendance:
- 16,449
Match Stats
Home TeamNottm ForestAway TeamBlackburn
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 1, Blackburn Rovers 1.
Post update
Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Chris Brown (Blackburn Rovers).
Post update
Attempt missed. Elliott Bennett (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ben Osborn (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Britt Assombalonga.
Post update
Attempt missed. Henri Lansbury (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ben Osborn following a set piece situation.
Post update
Ben Osborn (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Jason Lowe (Blackburn Rovers).
Post update
Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Elliott Bennett tries a through ball, but Matthew Kilgallon is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Chris Brown replaces Danny Graham.
Substitution
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Britt Assombalonga replaces Robert Tesche.
Post update
Robert Tesche (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers).
Post update
Foul by Henri Lansbury (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Jordi Gómez (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Jordi Gómez replaces Hope Akpan.
Booking
Gary Gardner (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card.
Booking
Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Gary Gardner (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
