Forest broke a five-game losing streak but completed another 90 minutes
without scoring a goal against lacklustre Cardiff at Ninian Park.
Paul Hart's strugglers have not registered a league goal since the 1-1 draw at
Watford back on December 6 and have now gone 14 league matches without a win.
The point gained from a tepid encounter was not enough to lift Forest out of
the bottom three, while Cardiff, who mustered only half a dozen shots on goal,
lost further ground on a play-off spot.
Forest started in sprightly fashion with Eugen Bopp letting fly from distance
in the third minute and forcing City keeper Martyn Margetson into a smart save.
Forest bossed the early stages with Bopp prompting from midfield, but neither
side created any further openings in the first 20 minutes.
Margetson then held Bopp's dangerous cross before City stirred into action,
Chris Barker troubling Forest keeper Darren Ward with his ball into the box and
Graham Kavanagh also making headway down the left.
The visitors blew a gilt-edged chance to take the lead in the 24th minute.
Striker Gareth Taylor lost his marker to meet Gareth Williams' cross but headed
over from six yards.
Half an hour had passed before the Welsh side had their first effort on goal,
Paul Parry drilling one wide from 30 yards before Forest almost made their
dominance pay.
Williams found himself in space on the right side of the penalty area and his
rifled shot beat Margetson but came back off the post.
Cardiff's frustration was apparent when Rhys Weston launched himself at Forest
striker Andy Reid and earned a yellow card for his trouble.
But City raised their game as half-time approached with Peter Thorne firing in
a shot that Ward did well to clear and Weston seeing his effort from the edge of
the area fizz wide.
Forest picked up where they left off at the start of the second half, Daniel
Gabbidon blocking another effort from Williams from 18 yards and Marlon King
denied by Margetson from close range.
Goalmouth action was still in short supply, but Forest looked the more likely
side to break the deadlock with Bopp firing over the bar from the edge of the
area.
Cardiff boss Lennie Lawrence sent on Alan Lee for Peter Thorne in a bid to
sharpen the Bluebirds up in front of goal and soon after replaced Parry with
Gareth Whalley.
Richard Langley fired in a rare shot on target from close range, but veteran
Forest defender Des Walker blocked it before Lawrence took off the ineffective
Robert Earnshaw for Andy Campbell.
But Campbell's only contribution was to be called offside, while Weston's
wayward drive in the closing stages best summed up a dire afternoon.
Teams
Cardiff: Margetson, Weston, Vidmar, Gabbidon, Barker, Parry (Whalley 75), Kavanagh, Boland, Langley, Thorne (Lee 68), Earnshaw (Campbell 83).
Subs Not Used: Alexander, Prior.
Booked: Weston.
Nottm Forest: Ward, Louis-Jean, Walker, Doig, Oyen, Reid, Williams, Sonner, Bopp, Taylor, King.
Subs Not Used: Jess, Roche, Gunnarsson, Cash, Westcarr.
Att: 17,913
Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).
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