Nottingham Forest took Premiership side Sunderland to extra time before being put out of the Carling Cup.

Sunderland shaded the first half with more shots on target but Forest looked impressive at times and worked hard to contain Sunderland and keep the scoreline at 0-0.

It was a fast, furious second half but, although Sunderland created far more chances, it was Forest who took the lead with a superbly taken free kick by Robert Earnshaw. But after putting Forest under more and more pressure Sunderland got the equalizer with five minutes to go.

Sunderland took the lead three minutes into extra time and although Forest battled to the final whistle they were unable to break down the Sunderland defence.

Sunderland had the majority of the play in the opening minutes, getting forward a number of times, but their final efforts were wide, high or both.

Garath McCleary produced some beautiful football when he beat Nyron Nosworthy with his pace, got away down the left and pulled the ball back for Earnshaw, but it was a bit short for him to get on the end of.

Forest's first real chance came when Julian Bennett fed the ball through to Matt Thornhill who was under pressure in the box and headed just over the crossbar.

They had another opportunity to take the lead when Luke Chambers made an excellent cross from the left towards Earnshaw, but he was tackled well by Nosworthy and Craig Gordon gathered up the ball.

Sunderland came close on 24 minutes when Djibril Cisse got away down the left and sent the ball crashing off the far post from 20 yards out.

Paul Smith kept Forest on level terms whey Daryl Murphy shot from the centre of the penalty area and the Forest keeper tipped the ball round the post.

The away side missed another chance when Cisse sent the ball across the box to Daryl Murphy but he shot wide from six yards.

And they continued to put pressure on Forest when substitute Liam Miller picked out Dean Whitehead, who beat the offside trap and ran through to shoot from 12 yards. Smith did well to punch the ball clear and Whitehead missed from the rebound.

Sunderland were awarded a free kick when Ian Breckin clipped Nosworthy 20 yards out in the centre, but Cisse sent the ball flying high over the bar.

Forest had a chance late in the half but Chambers cross landed in the arms of Gordon.

Smith had two simple saves to make in the opening minutes of the second half from Andy Reid and Cisse.

Thornhill made a good move when he got away down the right and put in a cross to McCleary but he sent the ball high towards the Upper Trent End.

Beautiful build up work by Guy Moussi, who picked out Thornhill with a superb cross to the far side. It was a great cross back in by Thornhill with the ball just missing Earnshaw's foot by inches.

Forest took the lead just before the hour mark after they were awarded a free kick when Nosworth fouled Earnshaw. The Forest striker stepped up to take it and sent the ball crashing into the back of the net.

Sunderland were straight on the attack and Miller's effort was cleared by Wes Morgan. Two corners followed before Smith cleared from a free kick.

Earnshaw could have made it two when he combined well with Thornhill but his final ball went over the crossbar.

The travelling supporters thought they had equalized when El-Hadji Diouf put in a superb cross to Reid who volleyed into the side netting.

Sunderland continued to pile on the pressure but Forest defended solidly and good tackles by both Luke Chambers and Moussi kept them in the lead.

McCleary was rewarded with a standing ovation when he was replaced by Nathan Tyson with 11 minutes to go and he was quickly involved in the action but was blocked by Pascal Chimbonda.

But Sunderland were quick to threaten again but James Perch did well to put the ball out on the left and then Smith had to punch away from Cisse.

Sunderland equalized with five minutes to go following a free kick by Reid. Smith made a great save to parry away Miller's shot but Moussi swung with his foot and the ball deflected to Bardsley whose effort went back across the face of goal into the bottom left.

Good build-up work gave Forest a chance to re-take the lead and Thornhill got above the Sunderland defenders, but headed just wide.

Over four minutes of stoppage time were played but neither side was able to find the winning goal to stop the game going into extra time.

Sunderland took the lead less than three minutes after the start when Grant Leadbitter got away from his man. Smith stretched to make an excellent first save but the rebound came out to David Healy who tucked the ball in from 12 yards.

Shortly after the goal Matt Thornhill, after an excellent performance, made way for Andrew Cole as Forest searched for an equalizer.

As the sides changed ends Moussi was Forest's third substitution, replaced by Emile Sinclair.

The crossbar denied Forest an equalizer when they won a free kick after Miller fouled Cole. Earnshaw put the ball into the box and Chambers' effort from six yards came off the bar.

Although Forest continued to push forward the away side defended in numbers to deny Forest any more chances.