Forest inched further away from the Division One drop zone after shading an
open Midlands derby against Stoke at the City Ground.
A home victory would have seen Forest surpass the magical 50-point mark
thought to guarantee safety, but ultimately they did not possess the class to
break down a resolute Stoke side.
Forest manager Joe Kinnear was able to name an unchanged side, with in-form
strike pair Gareth Taylor and Marlon King again keeping the fit-again David
Johnson out of the side.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis was not so fortunate, however, with striker Ade
Akinbiyi and goalkeeper Ed de Goey both missing through injury.
Neil Cutler stepped in for the Dutchman, and he was immediately called into
action when King found space on the edge of the area. His shot lacked power,
however, and Cutler was able to hold.
Forest's revival under Kinnear has this week prompted Gareth Williams into an
apparent change of heart over his City Ground future.
The Scot - who had looked certain to leave the club during the summer, but now
seems likely to stay - displayed his rediscovered confidence with a fierce,
dipping volley which flashed wide of the upright.
After surviving Forest's busy opening burst, Stoke began to assert themselves
in front of a packed house at the City Ground.
Gifton Noel-Williams found Forest's on-loan goalkeeper Paul Gerrard in top
form when chancing his arm from distance, while Kris Commons also went close
with an audacious volley.
After three goals in two games, King is finally beginning to show the kind of
form which led Kinnear's predecessor Paul Hart to part with £950,000 in order to
sign him from Gillingham.
After linking up well with Taylor, King smashed a powerful volley goalwards
only to see Cutler pull off a top-quality save.
Gerry Taggart has been crucial in Stoke's defensive solidity this season, but
the former Leicester man went close to influencing matters at the other end
shortly after the break.
The centre-back met Commons' cross with a powerful header which Paul Gerrard
was relieved to see flash wide of the post.
With 15 minutes remaining, Kinnear threw on Johnson in place of King.
The former Ipswich striker, who was on target as Forest romped to a 6-0
victory in this fixture last season, tried gamely in order to break down the
Stoke defence so ably marshalled by Taggart.
However, it was Stoke who went closest to snatching a late winner when Carl
Asaba volleyed straight at Gerrard three minutes from time.
Teams
Notts Forest: Gerrard, Louis-Jean, Dawson, Morgan, Doig, Impey,
Evans, Williams (Jess 89), Reid, Taylor, King (Johnson 75).
Subs Not Used: Roche, Sonner, Robertson.
Booked: Louis-Jean.
Stoke: Cutler, Halls, Thomas, Taggart, Marcus Hall, Henry,
Commons, Clarke, Russell, Asaba, Noel-Williams.
Subs Not Used: Hill, Gunnarsson, Wilkinson, Svard, Palmer.
Booked: Asaba, Henry.
Att: 28,758
Ref: M Cowburn (Lancashire).
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