Nottingham Forest made heavy weather of making FA Cup progress at the expense of Peterborough at the City Ground.

They ran out 1-0 fourth-round winners thanks to Marlon King's 10th-minute goal but the Championship outfit were made to sweat for their slender triumph over League One opposition.

Forest had plenty of luck against a spirited Posh side who saw vociferous first-half penalty claims waved away before David Farrell rattled the Forest woodwork midway through the second half.

The Reds had had the afternoon's first attack of note though, only for King to see his ambitious effort from the right channel go over goalkeeper Mark Tyler's crossbar.

Moments later and the hosts were in front though as Alan Rogers crossed from the left to provide the unmarked Jamaican international with the easiest of side-footed finishes from 12 yards.

And Forest were soon on the attack once more but this time Tyler saved King's effort at the foot of the post before Andy Reid fired a rasping drive wide from 18 yards.

With 25 minutes gone, Peterborough's Jamie McMaster could only shoot into the defensive wall after the visitors were awarded a free-kick inches outside the Forest area despite vehement claims that Gareth Taylor's foul on Calum Willock had been committed inside the box.

As Peterborough pressed forward in search of an equaliser Paul Evans produced a fine defensive tackle to halt Richard Logan's progress after he burst past Wes Morgan.

Then, with four minutes until the break, Logan met a free-kick but the resulting weak header failed to trouble Paul Gerrard.

However, the Forest shotstopper needed two grabs to control a fierce strike from Steve Thomson.

With both sides unchanged for the start of the second half Peterborough picked up where they had left off in the opening period as Forest were pegged back in their own half.

And as the hour approached, Forest came perilously close to conceding after Logan supplied Farrell who had arrived unmarked in the Forest box from the left wing.

But Farrell's powerful drive rebounded off the far post before Ryan Semple lashed the ball wildly back across the face of goal once more to Farrell whose next effort was batted off the line by Gerrard although an offside flag had by then been raised.

Calum Willock was the next to go close for Posh but his outstretched leg failed to make contact with a cross hit deep to the back post from Curtis Woodhouse on the left.

With 15 minutes remaining Farrell powered into the Forest penalty area where his left-foot effort was parried by Gerard, who was forced into emergency action again moments later when he punched Sagi Burton's header off the line in the aftermath of a Peterborough corner.

And the dying moments were enlivened by Forest manager Gary Megson's slanging match with David Johnson as the Reds' substitute striker returned to the dug-out following a touchline warm-up ahead of his late introduction.

Teams

Nottm Forest Gerrard, Thompson, Morgan, Doig, Rogers, Derry, Evans, Reid (Harris 68), Commons (Nowland 58), King, Taylor, Nowland (Johnson 88).

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Hjelde.

Goals: King 10.

Peterborough Tyler, St. Ledger, Burton, Arber, Woodhouse, Semple (Kanu 76), Thomson, McMaster, Farrell, Willock, Logan (Clarke 65).

Subs Not Used: McShane, Boucaud, Sonner.

Att: 16,774

Ref: A Leake (Lancashire).