Former Norwich striker Rob Earnshaw returned to East Anglia to deny 10-man Ipswich their first Championship victory of the season.

The Tractor Boys took the lead inside a minute when Grant Leadbitter, making his home debut, fired the ball into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

But Earnshaw, who had a prolific record down the road with Norwich, struck just moments after being introduced off the bench in the 59th minute, registering his first goal of the campaign.

Town finished the game with 10 men when defender Gareth McAuley was dismissed for a professional foul on substitute Dele Adebola on the edge of the area.

It means Town have made their worst start to a season for 40 years while Forest have now drawn their last seven away games.

Ipswich, who began the game second from bottom and with just two points from a possible 18, made a dream start by going ahead inside a minute.

Leadbitter, a recent signing from Sunderland, made no mistake after being set up by Jon Stead, who was recalled to the starting line-up.

Forest, without an away win since a 1-0 victory at Reading in February, had a chance to equalise in the third minute but Dexter Blackstock headed Chris Gunter's delivery over the crossbar.

Back came Ipswich and Alan Quinn failed to find the target from 25 yards while a long-range Jonathan Walters drive was comfortably dealt with by Forest goalkeeper Lee Camp.

The home side continued to dominate and Stead planted a header wide from a decent position before Forest created a couple of quick openings.

First David McGoldrick blasted a shot wide from the edge of the penalty box and a Chris Cohen free-kick sailed over the crossbar.

Ipswich created the first chance of the second half with Damien Delaney curling a shot over the bar before Forest boss Billy Davies turned to Earnshaw just before the hour mark to try and haul his side level.

The move worked a treat as Earnshaw immediately pounced from close range after being set up by Adebola.

Desperate to break their duck, Ipswich pressed for a winner and Walters came close to putting his side back in front with 13 minutes left only to see his header kept out by Camp.

Stead then struck a shot over the bar from 20 yards and Lee Martin lashed a shot wide from the edge of the box before Forest defender Luke Chambers produced two brilliant blocks to deny Delaney and McAuley as Town piled on the pressure.

McAuley then saw red after hauling down Adebola. Earnshaw blasted the free-kick against the wall before Town goalkeeper Richard Wright denied Adebola a winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Ipswich (1) 1 Nottm Forest (0) 1

Ipswich Richard Wright, Rosenior (Trotter 71), Bruce, McAuley, Delaney, Edwards (Peters 60), Leadbitter, Quinn (Colback 60), Martin, Stead, Walters.

Subs Not Used: Lee-Barrett, Counago, Priskin, Smith.

Sent Off: McAuley (90).

Booked: Martin, Leadbitter, Colback.

Goals: Leadbitter 1.

Nottm Forest Camp, Gunter, Chambers, Morgan, Lynch, Cohen, Anderson (McCleary 76), Garner (Earnshaw 58), McKenna, Blackstock (Adebola 46), McGoldrick.

Subs Not Used: Smith, Wilson, McGugan, Moussi.

Booked: Garner, Gunter, Adebola, McGoldrick.

Goals: Earnshaw 59.

Att: 21,130

Ref: Gavin Ward (Surrey).