Nottingham Forest had to settle for a point as they drew 0-0 away to Bristol City - but the Reds will feel they should have taken all three.
The visitors were in complete control in the first half, dominating possession and putting some lovely moves together.
Anthony Knockaert set the tone when he fired wide from range early on as Forest made a positive start, while Joe Worrall headed midway through the half.
It was Alex Mighten who went closest to breaking the deadlock, however, almost finishing off a fabulous move.
Brice Samba started it with a quick throw to James Garner, who powered up the pitch before playing in the Reds winger. Mighten cut inside and fired goalwards, but saw his effort cannon back off the post.
A shot from Ryan Yates was deflected just off target soon after as Forest applied the pressure.
Nevertheless, they struggled to create too many clearcut chances beyond that - and the Robins offered a warning just before the interval.
Yates threw himself in the way of a Kasey Palmer strike, before Henri Lansbury hit the upright from a free-kick in the closing minutes of the half.
It was a somewhat scrappier affair after the break as the Reds’ intensity levels dropped.
Garner tried his luck early on, but otherwise Dan Bentley was largely untroubled as the game fell flat.
Substitute Luke Freeman almost won it late on with a fierce volley, but Forest will feel they should have already had the match wrapped up by then.
Instead, they were left frustrated as they couldn’t quite make it three league wins on the spin.
Player ratings
Brice Samba: Quick distribution helped launch a fabulous move in the first half - deserved a goal from it, but Alex Mighten was denied by the post. Stayed alert when he needed to be. Rating: 7/10
Cyrus Christie : Has really come into his own in the second half of the season. Another excellent display from the player who has made the right-back spot his own. Rating: 8/10
Joe Worrall: Tried to cause problems at set-pieces, getting his head on a couple of them. Marshalled the back line well to keep a Robins side which looked low on confidence at bay. Rating: 8/10
Scott McKenna: Partnership with Worrall continues to show a lot of promise for the future. The hosts didn’t work the back line too hard, but there was no way through when they did try. Rating: 7/10
Tyler Blackett : Really feeling the benefits of a run in the side as he deservedly kept his place in the XI. Looks very assured and comfortable, and linked up well going forward. Rating: 7/10
James Garner: He’s just a class above, isn’t he? Ran the midfield and pulled some delightful passes out the bag. Played a key part in the best move of the game for Mighten’s chance. Rating: 8/10
Ryan Yate s: Worked really well alongside Garner, doing a lot of the dirty work as he threw himself in the way of various shots and passes. Went close with a first half effort. Rating: 8/10
Alex Mighten : Desperately close to what would have been a brilliant goal, just denied by the woodwork. Had the Robins on the back foot at times with his pace. Rating: 7/10
Filip Krovinovic: Pulled the strings when the Reds were in control in the first half, albeit without finding that killer pass. Quieter after the break. Rating: 7/10
Anthony Knockaert: Some quality touches, but also guilty of giving the ball away carelessly. Final pass and decision-making needed to be better, too. Forest had so much possession, but not enough clearcut chances. Rating: 5/10
Lewis Grabban : For all the possession Forest had, there was very little for the front man to feed off. Forced to drop deep as was too isolated at times. Rating: 5/10
Subs : Lyle Taylor (for Grabban, 76) : Had a go soon after coming on, but didn’t really get a look-in after that. Rating: 6/10
Cafu (for Krovinovic, 84) : Not enough time to make an impact on a game the visitors should have wrapped up by the time he entered the pitch. Rating: 6/10
Luke Freeman (for Mighten, 88): Almost grabbed the winner in added time with a fierce volley which flew just over. Rating: 7/10
Subs not used: Smith, Ribeiro, Mbe Soh, Colback, Jenkinson, Murray.
What the managers said
“The disappointing thing is, for a game we had really good control of, it was the type of game you could end up losing at the end.
“Overall, I was pleased with a lot of aspects of our play," Forest boss Chris Hughton said.
“We got the ball into the final third a lot. But if you don’t score, and don’t score at the right time, you put a bit more pressure on yourself.
“Once I go away and think about it, I’ll probably be pleased with the performance but not the fact that we never got the goal, or goals, to win the game."
"It was a move in the right direction. There is a lot more hard work ahead to get to where we want to be," Robin boss Nigel Pearson said.
“My contract is only until May, but I am working the same as if it were for longer, which may prove the case.
“There are a lot of things to sort out, whoever is in charge next season.”
What the fans said
Richard Leonard : There’s no point having the ball when you lack the killer touch in the final third. Knockhaert has lost his pace and trickery and should just now rely on a good delivery. He can’t go past players ! An on form Ameobi would have been good in this game instead . Garner and Christie had good games today.
Andrew Haywood : This season is now over , not going up or down, CH is the best manager Forest have had for many years and has the pedigree to take the club back to the promised land provided the right additions and exits are made of the summer, COYRs
Joe Frost: For the fourth or fifth season on the trot (barring patches of last season) the problem of us not being able to attack and score is glaringly obvious. Hopefully Houghton can be the person to finally sort it out over the Summer.
Up next
Huddersfield, home, Saturday April 17 3pm
