What is it about Reading, eh? Late goal for Nottingham Forest. Lightening quick equaliser. Again.
It was a case of deja vu at the City Ground, little more than a week since an almost identical scenario played out in the reverse fixture.
This one stings, too. Perhaps more so given the Reds could have gone third in the table with a victory.
But head coach Sabri Lamouchi came out fighting afterwards. And as well he might.
The Frenchman where he spoke of his pride in his players - and the fans. Of how even with a victory, the race would have been far from won. Of how Forest should not feel disappointed with that result.
He’s right of course.
This season has a long way to go yet. This game, this result, won't define it. There will be twists and turns aplenty between now and May.
It was a good performance from the hosts against a Royals side who gave them barely an inch. Space and clearcut chances were at a premium.
Forest had to be patient in the early stages, amid a tentative start to a game with plenty at stake.
John Swift fired a couple of early warning shots for the Royals; his first effort from range sailing over the bar, the second being comfortably caught by Brice Samba.
Just as he did against Luton Town, it was Joe Lolley who took things by the scruff of the neck and looked to spark his team into life.
A piledriver in the 20th minute had to be palmed away by Rafael Cabral as it threatened to find the bottom corner, while a free-kick just seconds later curled wide of the post.
And in a decent spell for the hosts, another Lolley set-piece soon after presented a good chance for Tiago Silva.
The initial shot cannoned off the wall, straight to the Portuguese, whose first-time strike dipped just off target.
For the most part, though, the first half was
Reading offered a reminder of what they were capable of when Jordan Obita drilled a shot wide of the far post from the left.
And with little by way of goalmouth action, Joe Worrall strode purposefully forward as half-time neared, before having a crack from around 25 or 30 yards out. Worth a go, but Cabral got his body behind it.
It was the visitors who almost forced a breakthrough just before the whistle, looking dangerous with a quick counterattack which drew an awkward save from Samba to deny Obita.
There wasn’t a great deal to choose between the two sides for much of the second half, either.
Worrall had a shot charged down in the area, while Samba thwarted Obita again at the opposite end.
In a bid to find a creative spark, Joao Carvalho was summoned from the bench on the hour, replacing Samba Sow, with Silva dropping deep as a result.
But still a tough, disciplined, organised Reading side refused to budge.
That was until the 80th minute.
Neat link-up between Yuri Ribeiro and Sammy Ameobi saw the latter’s scuffed shot fall for Grabban at the far post. And the front man slotted home.
In a game of minimal chances, where Forest, for the most part, had been pretty solid, that should have been it.
Ben Watson will be able to sympathise, though.
Just as in the reverse fixture, when Watson thought he had bagged the winner, Grabban’s goal was quickly cancelled out.
A few minutes later Reading were level.
The Reds let their concentration slip and Sam Baldock managed to squeeze his shot beyond Samba from inside the box after a well-worked passing move.
It was gut-wrenching. Just as it had been at the Madejski.
But it should not detract from the promising position Forest are in, or the positive run of results they have registered.
As Lamouchi said afterwards, this is not over. Yet.
Forest: Samba, Cash, Worrall, Dawson, Ribeiro, Watson, Sow (Carvalho 61), Lolley (Adomah 89), Silva, Ameobi, Grabban. Subs not used: Smith, Jenkinson, Semedo, Yates, Chema.
Reading: Cabral, Gunter, Morrison, Moore, Swift, Obita, Ejaria, Olise (Loader 90), Blackett, Pele, Puscas (Baldock 77). Subs not used: Walker, Miazga, Rinomhota, Boye, Adam.
Attendance: 26,840 (808 away).
