Nottingham Forest's run of home wins ended today with a goalless draw between third and fourth.

It was an evenly-matched game but, with both sides well-organized at the back, chances on target were few and far between.

It was an entertaining, lively first half which Cardiff dominated early on. But Forest looked much stronger as the half progressed and although both sides created chances, neither could find the back of the net.

Forest were the better side in the second half, creating more chances, but with many of them off target the game finished goalless.

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Forest had the first chance of the game in the fourth minute from a free kick wide on the left, taken by Radoslaw Majewski, but Dexter Blackstock headed straight into David Marshall's hands.

Cardiff had a chance from a corner just a minute later. With the ball loose in the Forest penalty area Joe Ledley got a foot to it, but the ball was deflected over the crossbar.

Robert Earnshaw should have given Forest the lead in the seventh minute when Darcy Blake gave the ball away in midfield. The Forest striker ran through from midfield but his left-footed shot was not good enough and Marshall was able to block it.

Some persistent pressure from Cardiff, which created a succession of corners, forced Forest to defend well and kept Lee Camp busy.

A superb cross from Guy Moussi created a chance but Nathan Tyson, running into the box between two Cardiff players, was not quite able to get his foot onto the end of it.

Forest missed a chance to take the lead when Tyson made a run down the right and put in a great cross. The ball ran across the face of goal to Chris Cohen but he was unable to connect at the back post.

Some good end-to-end football saw both sides looking dangerous on the break, but with both teams also defending well the first half ended goalless.

There were fewer chances in the opening minutes of the second half with neither side finding the target although Forest came closest.

A lovely cross from wide left by Cohen found Blackstock's head as he ran into the six-yard box, but the ball went straight into the arms of Marshall.

Garath McCleary became the first substitute for Forest when he replaced Majewski with 20 minutes of the half gone.

A superb long-range shot by Ross McCormack forced a good save by Camp, who was only able to parry the ball away. And the Cardiff striker picked up a yellow card as he brought Chris Gunter down as he tried to make a break.

A good ball in from Tyson created another chance when Earnshaw managed to get between two Cardiff defenders, but his effort under pressure went over the bar.

An excellent effort from Blackstock from the edge of the penalty area forced Marshall to dive to his right to make a great save. The ball came out towards Tyson but he was beaten to the rebound.

With seven minutes remaining Earnshaw, who had worked hard throughout the game, was replaced by David McGoldrick to give Forest some fresh legs up front.

As the game entered the final minutes Forest had the Cardiff side rattled and when the ball came in from Tyson on the left, Cohen's effort was deflected wide by Blake for a corner.

A great cross from the right by McCleary almost found Blackstock's head but Anthony Gerrard once again defended well to stop him getting the ball on target.

Play was stopped in injury time when Blackstock's face inadvertently became the target for Marshall's fist as he attempted to clear the ball and the dazed-looking Forest striker didn't come back on for the final minute.

Nottingham Forest: Camp(C), Chambers, Morgan, Wilson, Gunter, Moussi, Cohen, Majewski,(McCleary 65min) Tyson, Earnshaw(McGoldrick, 83min), Blackstock
Subs not used: Smith, Perch, Boyd, McGugan, Garner
Bookings: Blackstock 51min, McGoldrick 90+1min

Cardiff City: Marshall, Gerrard, Kennedy, Blake, McPhail, Matthews, Ledley, Bothroyd, McCormack, Chopra, Etuhu(Wildig 74min)
Subs used not: Enckelman, Morris, Rae, Capaldi, Magennis, Feeney
Bookings: McCormack 69min, Bothroyd 81min, Chopra 88min

Referee: Chris Foy
Attendance: 22,185 Away attn:1,168