Sheffield United's Championship promotion charge was halted by 10-man Nottingham Forest, who held on gamely for an unlikely point following the first-half dismissal of Kelvin Wilson.

Forest's relegation fight was dealt an early blow when defender Wilson was sent off for headbutting Greg Halford in the 16th minute.

But high-flying United were denied a sixth successive league win by Billy Davies' side, who had only climbed out of the bottom three on Saturday courtesy of a last-gasp win over Bristol City.

Kevin Blackwell's side, who secured their fifth league win on the trot at promotion rivals Reading on Friday, played without the composure or purpose they had displayed in recent weeks.

Blackwell made two changes to the side that won at Reading on Friday, with Leigh Bromby and David Cotterill in for Matt Kilgallon - who could be out for the rest of the season with knee ligament damage - and John Joe O'Toole.

Forest were forced into five changes as goalkeeper Paul Smith, Luke Chambers, Ian Breckin, Joe Garner and Isaiah Osbourne were all named in the starting XI.

Neither side had created a single chance before a moment of madness saw Forest reduced to 10 men in the 16th minute.

Wilson inexplicably headbutted Halford following a tangle on the edge of the visitors' penalty area and referee Mike Jones, standing only yards away, instantly brandished a red card.

But United struggled to make an immediate impression against 10 men and had to wait until the 33rd minute before their first sight of goal when Henderson headed Halford's ball in over the crossbar.

Blades defender Gary Naysmith then foiled Wes Morgan at the far post as Forest refused to be pushed onto the back foot.

Henderson thundered another header over from Cotterill's corner, but Smith did well to keep out Halford's far-post header.

The home side continually probed for an opening after the restart, but their first effort on goal - blasted over by Halford from 15 yards - came in the 63rd minute.

Substitute Craig Beattie, a 57th-minute replacement for Cotterill, headed wide soon after, but at the other end Joe Garner wasted a chance to test goalkeeper Paddy Kenny following Chris Gunter's gallop into the box.

Beattie was wayward with a header from Kyle Naughton's cross, but Forest continued to chase and harry to thwart each United attack.

Breckin was penalised for his foul on Henderson in the 82nd minute, but Halford's drive from the subsequent free-kick was comfortably gathered by Smith.

Beattie headed down and wide from Hendrie's corner, then fired in a late curling effort which Smith held, and despite five minutes of injury time Forest continued to throw themselves into every block and challenge to deny Blackwell's outfit.

Teams

Sheff Utd Kenny, Naughton, Morgan, Bromby, Naysmith, Halford,Montgomery, Howard (Hendrie 66), Cotterill (Beattie 57),Ward (Lupoli 79), Henderson.

Subs Not Used: O'Toole, Walker.

Booked: Bromby.

Nottm Forest Smith, Chambers, Morgan, Breckin, Wilson,Garner (McCleary 68), Osbourne, Perch, Cohen (McGugan 76),Gunter, Blackstock (Anderson 57).

Subs Not Used: Redmond, Thornhill.

Sent Off: Wilson (16).

Booked: Breckin, Cohen, Morgan.

Att: 28,374

Ref: Mike Jones (Cheshire).