Nottingham Forest and West Brom were left looking over their shoulder after a
largely uneventful goalless draw at the City Ground.
Both sides are just above the relegation places - and on this evidence it was
clear to see why.
In the end Albion were unfortunate not to register their first victory in 12
games after having the better of the second half.
But twice 40-year-old goalkeeper Dave Beasant came to Forest's rescue to deny
Lee Hughes.
In the 54th minute he produced an instinctive save from close-range after
Hughes looked certain to convert a cross from Graham Potter.
And on the hour Beasant was again Forest's saviour, blocking with his legs
after the striker beat the offside trap to collect a Mickey Evans through-ball.
Forest also survived another scare when Evans headed narrowly wide from a
corner by Andy Townsend.
Despite their greater possession Forest rarely threatened to find a way past
young West Brom keeper Chris Adams, who deserved his one moment of good fortune
when a shot by Chris Bart-Williams cannoned to safety off his legs.
The second-half action came after an inept first 45 minutes in which both
sides illustrated just how much they have struggled to make an impression in the
first half of the season.
Forest's main attempts came from Trinidad and Tobago striker Stern John but he
had a header saved by Adamson and then shot into the side netting on the half
hour.
Albion's only first-half effort of note came from Hughes, who drifted in from
the left but saw his right-foot shot finish a yard wide of the far post.
That was the sum total of the first half goalmouth action but at least Albion
improved after the break and it would have been an injustice had Forest snatched
victory.
David Platt's side had one chance to do that but John, stretching to connect
with a cross from Matthieu Louis-Jean, glanced a header wide of the post.
Teams
Nottm Forest: Beasant, Louis-Jean, Scimeca, Hjelde, Brennan,
Bonalair (Petrachi 55), Prutton, Bart-Williams, Gray, Freedman,
John (Harewood 79).
Subs Not Used: Crossley, Dawson, Williams.
Booked: John, Prutton, Harewood.
West Brom: Adamson, Burgess, Carbon, Chambers, Van Blerk,
Gabbidon (Evans 33), Townsend, Sneekes, Potter, Quinn, Hughes.
Subs Not Used: Morris, Angel, Raven, Oliver.
Booked: Burgess, Townsend, Carbon.
Att: 19,863
Ref: Steve Bennett (Orpington).
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