Walsall's on-loan Wimbledon winger Gareth Ainsworth grabbed a point for his side as these teams, both struggling for form, did little to turn around their fortunes.

Forest had lost four out of five going into the game and Walsall had been beaten in their last three, and they each played as though lacking in confidence.

John Thompson made amends for an inauspicious start to the match by giving Forest a 15th-minute lead, but their promotion bid has stuttered badly since December arrived and it now looks like the play-offs at best for Paul Hart's side.

The hosts were missing Des Walker, Riccardo Scimeca and Jon Olav Hjelde in defence and Thompson, one of their replacements, was booked after less than one-and-a-half minutes for a foul on Ainsworth.

However, he made a much more positive contribution 13 minutes later when getting on the end of a David Prutton cross and converting from close range.

In between, Forest's 21-goal top scorer David Johnson had headed wide with the delivery again having come from Prutton, while Michael Dawson did the same from an Andrew Reid cross.

Walsall were being restricted to long-range shots that were easily dealt with by Darren Ward until the goalkeeper had to produce a superb parry from a Darren Wrack shot after 32 minutes.

But the visitors showed more attacking threat after the interval and could have equalised after 57 minutes when it was again Wrack who had the chance, this time heading wide from a Darren Bazeley cross, while Ainsworth drilled the ball off target from a good position.

Brazilian striker Junior had the next opportunity for the Saddlers but failed to find his range with a header from Zigor Aranalde's centre, but after 62 minutes the perseverance paid off. Bazeley sent the ball in from the right and Ainsworth headed it past Ward to make it 1-1.

Forest were stung by the equaliser and Johnson missed a chance to restore their lead after 67 minutes, volleying wide when connecting with a cross from Reid.

The closing stages were of poor quality with neither outfit having the conviction to create any sort of winning opportunity, and they must hope the FA Cup action at the weekend stimulates a revival.

Teams

Nottm Forest: Ward, Louis-Jean, Dawson, Doig, Brennan, Thompson, Williams, Prutton, Reid (Lester 90), Johnson (Westcarr 77), Harewood.

Subs Not Used: Roche, Bopp, Jess.

Booked: Thompson, Prutton.

Goals: Thompson 15.

Walsall: Walker, Bazeley, Roper, Pollet (Carbon 71), Aranalde, Ainsworth (Matias 89), O'Connor, Simpson, Wrack, Junior (Sonner 84), Leitao.

Subs Not Used: Ward, Zdrilic.

Booked: Aranalde.

Goals: Ainsworth 63.

Att: 28,441

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).