Nottingham Forest slipped further into the Nationwide Division One relegation
mire after Gillingham stretched their winless run to a 17th game.
And the outcome would have been even worse for Joe Kinnear's side had Andy
Hessenthaler's second-half shot sneaked inside the post rather than crash
against it.
Though Forest were in the ascendancy throughout, their hopes of taking a vital
three points were compromised by a desperate shortage of confidence in the final
third.
Reduced ticket prices brought almost 26,500 fans to the City Ground on a
bitterly cold night, but they were given precious little to cheer.
Forest boss Joe Kinnear dropped loan striker Michael Chopra to the bench
following his anonymous display in the first-half of the 1-1 draw against
Rotherham on Saturday.
That meant a start for Gareth Taylor alongside Marlon King in attack, and the
former Gillingham striker immediately reminded his former team-mates how
dangerous he can be with a lively run which was only ended by a well-timed
tackle from Barry Ashby.
Gillingham failed to emerge from their own half inside the first five minutes,
and the incessant pressure almost forced a breakthrough when their French
keeper
Bertrand Bossu flapped under a high ball from Danny Sonner and John Thompson
latched onto the loose ball but his snapshot was cleared on the line by Nicky
Southall.
One sweeping move saw King float a tempting cross into the far post after
being released by Andy Reid. Taylor arrived right on cue with a powerful header
which Bossu needed every inch of his giant frame to keep out of the top corner.
What danger Gillingham did pose came largely through the explosive pace of
Patrick Agyemang.
The former Wimbledon striker drew a fine save out of Darren Ward midway
through the half after leaving the ageing legs of Des Walker in his slipstream.
Kinnear replaced Brynjar Gunnarson with Eoin Jess at the interval, and the
classy Scot immediately began to create fresh problems for the Gillingham
defence.
The presence of another creative midfielder also seemed to reinvigorate Reid.
The Irishman, whose stocky frame disguises a dangerous turn of pace, beat two
defenders before finding King in space on the edge of the area. His low shot was
crisp but Bossu was able to get a strong hand to it and avert the danger.
Though Kinnear is still unbeaten since replacing Paul Hart, he knows wins are
needed, and quickly, if he is not to be managing in Division Two next season.
Teams:
Nottm Forest (0) 0 Gillingham (0) 0
Nottm Forest Ward (Roche 65), Gunnarsson (Jess 45), Dawson,
Walker, Rogers, Impey, Thompson, Sonner, Reid, King,
Taylor (Chopra 79).
Subs Not Used: Doig, Robertson.
Gillingham Bossu, Southall, Leon Johnson, Ashby,
Hills (Rose 72), James, Smith, Hessenthaler,
Agyemang (Spiller 89), Wallace (Pouton 57), Sidibe.
Subs Not Used: Crofts, Beckwith.
Booked: Hills, Hessenthaler.
Att: 26,473
Ref: L Cable (Surrey).
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