Roberto Martinez’ Swansea were the visitors to the City Ground on Saturday as Nottingham Forest looked to build on the recent victories against Reading and Preston, and in the process inch closer to Championship safety.

Loan signing Gary McSheffrey became the Reds second debutant of the week as the on loan Birmingham man replaced the unlucky Gareth McCleary. Meanwhile, Wes Morgan served a one match ban with his place going to Ian Breckin.

Forest made an excellent start to the game and could have been in front within a couple of minutes as Robert Earnshaw’s shot on the turn flew just over.

At the other end Swansea were playing some delightful stuff without really managing to test Paul Smith although Joe Allen’s shot had the Forest keeper scrambling.

In truth the best chances in the opening period fell to the home side as Paul Anderson fired inches wide before Isaiah Osbourne struck the cross bar with a shot from distance. New boy McSheffrey wasted the half’s best opportunity when volleying wide from close in after a superb cross from Joel Lynch.

The second half begun as the first had ended with the Swans playing some attractive football without creating too much in the way of clear chances. Most near misses courtesy of the away side came from range with Mark Gower in particular going close whilst Chris Cohen forced Dorus De Vries into action at the other end.

As time began to inch away the deadlock was finally broken, and it was the away side who took the lead midway through the second period when Jason Scotland forced the ball home after Guillem Bausa had lifted beyond the stranded Paul Smith.

The Reds responded well to falling behind and it wasn’t too long before they found the equaliser as substitute Lewis McGugan made no mistake with a close range header following yet another pinpoint Joel Lynch cross from the left.

Both sides pushed for the winner in the later stages as the game stretched a little. Smith produced a brilliant save to deny Jordi Gomez but in truth a draw was probably about the right result.

Forest: Smith, Chambers, Breckin, Wilson, Lynch, McSheffrey (McGugan 68), Moussi, Osbourne (Perch 79), Cohen, Anderson (McCleary 46), Earnshaw

MOM: Isaiah Osbourne