Nottingham Forest 0–0 Cardiff City

Nottingham Forest and Cardiff play out a bore draw as both look closer to securing a play-off spot.

Both teams had chances to win this match but both squandered many chances. Cardiff were dominant in the first half as they pressured Forest and had several chances on goal within the first 10 minutes. Joe Ledley back from his double hip operation saw his shot blocked while Darcy Blake headed over from a corner. Forest’s first real chance came in the 21st minute as Majewski had a shot go wide from the edge of the area. Forest looked to get into the game as Blackstock headed wide and Earnshaw saw a shot blocked soon after.

Forest were the better side in the second half and soon after the restart Earnshaw saw a shot go wide of the post, with Cohen going close soon afterwards. Forest kept on pushing for the goal with Blackstock forcing a save from Marshall. Cardiff’s first real chance came on the hour mark as Bothroyd saw his shot blocked.

Forest had the best chance of the game as Blackstock dispossessed Darcy Blake and was through one-on-one with Marshall who got down low to make the save.

Cardiff may be deemed lucky to finish the match with 11 men as Gerrard and Marshall got into an argument which led to pushing and shoving, and the players going head to head late on. Chris Foy decided not to punish the players who could have easily been sent off for violent conduct.

Both teams stay in 3rd and 4th respectively with Forest 11 points away from West Brom in 2nd and Cardiff now 4 points ahead of Swansea. With both teams being 3 points away from each other.

Nottingham Forest Line-Up; Camp, Chambers, Morgan, Wilson, Gunter, Tyson, Cohen, Moussi, Majewski (McCleary 65), Earnshaw (McGoldrick 83), Blackstock Bench; Smith, Perch, McGugan, McCleary, Garner, McGoldrick, Boyd

Cardiff City Line-Up; Marshall, Kennedy, Gerrard, Blake, Matthews, McPhail, Ledley, Etuhu (Wildig 73), McCormack, Chopra, Bothroyd Bench; Enckleman, Morris, Rae, Capaldi, Wildig, Feeney, Magennis

Attendance; 22,185

Referee; Chris Foy

David Osterland