Lewis McGugan grabbed an injury-time equaliser to earn Nottingham Forest a draw at Cardiff which prevented the hosts from taking over at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.

Jay Bothroyd looked to have secured victory for the Bluebirds when he slid a left-footed shot past Lee Camp in the 63rd minute following a neat through ball from Joe Ledley.

But Forest, who have yet to lose away from home in the league this season, refused to lie down and claimed a deserved point when substitute McGugan lashed home a wonderful half-volley from the edge of the box in the 91st minute.

Although Forest impressed with some neat build-up play, they lacked a cutting edge in front of goal and rarely troubled home goalkeeper David Marshall prior to McGugan's late leveller.

In contrast, Camp was called upon to produce excellent saves to deny Peter Whittingham and Ledley in an entertaining first half.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones opted to name an unchanged starting XI following his side's 4-3 victory over Sheffield United last time out.

Forest were without striker Nathan Tyson, who picked up a calf injury in training on Friday. Joe Garner was recalled as a result, while Guy Moussi and Radoslaw Majewski also started in place of McGugan and Dele Adebola.

The visitors started brightly and were the first to threaten in the fifth minute. David McGoldrick latched onto a long ball forward but sliced his shot high and wide.

Moments later, Forest's Paul Anderson tumbled in the box under pressure from Adam Matthews, but their appeared to be little in the way of contact.

With Cardiff looking surprisingly lethargic, Anderson saw a driven left-footed shot whistle inches wide in the 16th minute.

The Bluebirds responded with their first meaningful attack and Camp was forced into a fine double save to repel efforts from Whittingham and Ledley.

Camp then pulled off a stunning one-handed stop in the 21st minute after Whittingham had tried his luck with a dipping half-volley from 25 yards.

Cardiff were forced into a change five minutes later as Stephen McPhail limped off to be replaced by Gavin Rae.

Forest centre-half Kelvin Wilson was booked in the 37th minute for hauling down Jay Bothroyd as the striker burst clear, while Whittingham was also cautioned for a wild lunge on former Cardiff full-back Chris Gunter.

The final action of an incident-packed first half saw Majewski curl a 30-yard free-kick narrowly wide.

Bothroyd was sent clear of the Forest defence five minutes after the break, but he was too slow to get his shot away and Wilson got back to make a crucial block.

The Bluebirds looked to have made the breakthrough in the 57th minute when Ledley met Whittingham's corner with a right-footed shot, but Forest cleared through a combination of Camp and Majewski on the line.

McGoldrick struck the side-netting at the other end before Forest introduced Adebola in place of Majewski in the 62nd minute.

Cardiff then moved ahead as Bothroyd claimed his fifth goal of the season following a swift counter attack involving Whittingham and Ledley.

Forest huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser, but they rarely looked like breaching the home defence.

However, they got their reward at the death as the ball broke kindly for McGugan - who had replaced Moussi with 13 minutes remaining - to unleash an unstoppable left-footed shot past the despairing Marshall.

Teams

Cardiff Marshall, Matthews, Hudson, Gerrard, Kennedy,Whittingham, McPhail (Rae 26), Ledley, Burke, Bothroyd, Chopra.

Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Gyepes, Quinn, Taiwo, Feeney,

McCormack.

Booked: Whittingham, Chopra.

Goals: Bothroyd 63.

Nottm Forest Camp, Gunter, Morgan, Wilson, Cohen,Garner (McCleary 66), McKenna, Moussi (McGugan 77),Majewski (Adebola 62), Anderson, McGoldrick.

Subs Not Used: Smith, Perch, Chambers, Lynch.

Booked: Wilson.

Goals: McGugan 90.

Att: 20,413

Ref: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).