Another home draw for Nottingham Forest was not enough to close the gap on the automatic promotion places while Brighton fought hard to lift themselves into the playoff places.

Forest produced some good football in the first half but they didn't have it all their own way, with Brighton looking dangerous on the break. And, assisted by some good saves from the Brighton keeper the first half finished goalless.

Forest were less creative in the second half but, in spite of having the majority of chances, were unable to find the back of the net.

Brighton missed a chance to take the lead in the fourth minute when one of their players nicked the ball from Kelvin Wilson and it came off Paul Smith and back out to Nicky Forster whose effort from close range went wide.

And KrisCommons looked sure to score for Forest in the twelfth minute when he got past Kerry Mayo and ran on his own into the box, but the Brighton keeper turned the ball round the post for a corner.

And Forest had another great chance from Julian Bennett's cross to Nathan Tyson, whose diving header across the face of goal found Matt Thornhill whose effort at a tight angle hit the post.

It was fast, end-to-end football as first Brighton made a quick break and, after good defending by Bennett, Tyson made a run down the left but was twice stopped by Gary Hart, who was booked for the second challenge.

As the pressure from Forest continued Michel Kuipers did well to first save from Luke Chambers' header at point blank range and from the rebound also stopped Chris Cohen's shot.

Forest had another chance when Brett Ormerod crossed to the back post to Thornhill who fed the ball to Commons. He had practically no room to move but managed a great shot which Kuipers had to put out for a corner.

Four minutes from half time Forest won a free kick to the right of the box when Thornhill was brought down but Clingan's effort went wide.

When Brighton won a late corner they came close to taking the lead when Tommy Elphick's effort forced Smith to put tip onto the crossbar.

Forest won a corner two minutes into the second half. Commons' shot was poor and barely reached the near post but the ball was helped on by Bennett to the far post where Thornhill volleyed over from four yards.

Wes Morgan was denied by the Brighton keeper when Commons' free kick wide on the right found the Forest defender just inside the box and Kuipers made a dive to his right and got a hand on it to give Forest another corner.

Forest kept up the pressure but Brighton had a player down on the right and Sammy Clingan made himself unpopular with the home crowd when he put the ball out for Joel Lynch to receive treatment.

A terrific run from Ormerod down the right put him in a goalscoring position but his effort was soft and easily saved by Kuipers.

Forest lacked the flair that they had shown in the first half and eventually Colin Calderwood made a double substitution with Lewis McGugan replacing Thornhill and Garath McCleary coming on for Chambers.

McGugan looked sure to score when he made a great run but his shot hit the inside of the post post, bounced right across the face of goal and just outside the other post.

With seven minutes to go Junior Agogo came on for Cohen but, with Brighton now defending in numbers, Forest still struggled to get the final ball in.

Nottingham Forest: Paul Smith, Kelvin Wilson(C), Luke Chambers(Garath McCleary 74min), Wes Morgan, Julian Bennett, Sammy Clingan, Chris Cohen(Junior Agogo 84min), Matt Thornhill(Lewis McGugan 74min), Kris Commons, Brett Ormerod, Nathan Tyson
Subs not used: Emile Sinclair, Mark Byrne,
Bookings: Cohen 58min

Brighton: Michel Kuipers, Kerry Mayo, Joel Lynch, Dean Cox(Guy Butters 89min), Nicky Forster (C)(Jake Robinson 74in), Steve Thomson(Doug Loft 69min), Therry Racon, Gary Hart, Glenn Murray, Tommy Elphick, David Martot
Subs not used: Joe Gatting, Shane McFaul
Bookings: Holt 18min

Referee: N S Miller
Attendance: 18,165 Away attn 1189