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VIEW MATCH REPORT

Sunday 17 Sep 2006
Nottingham Forest 0 v 0 Carlisle United
Forest stay top of the League

Nottingham Forest experienced their first 0-0 draw in nearly nine months, the last one being December 31st 2005, after being held back by a Carlisle side that improved as the game progressed.

The first half was all Forest until the last ten minutes when, after Forest missed their fourth penalty of the season, Carlisle gained in confidence and put the home side under pressure.

The second half was far more evenly matched; Forest created far less and were lucky not to concede when Murray missed an open goal.

It was 1976 when Carlisle last visited the City Ground and they brought a large crowd of supporters for today's game, who were obviously enjoying the occasion and creating a great atmosphere as the game got under way.

Forest, playing towards the Trent End, looked confident from the outset and looked a far better side than the one that lost to Oldham on Tuesday night.

Carlisle were under pressure in the third minute when Grant Holt's cross took a deflection of Kevin Gray and bounced off the top netting to go out for a corner.

Forest came close when Junior Agogo held the ball up well before sending it high into the box. Neil Harris sent a looping header over Kieren Westwood who had to scramble to his left and palm the ball round the post.

And they came close again when Nicky Southall flicked the ball to Grant Holt who sent it flying across the face of goal, but it went just wide of the far post.

As they continued to put pressure on the Carlisle goal Harris did well to pick out Agogo, who hit from a tight angle forcing another save from Westwood.

And from Southall's corner Wes Morgan's effort in the 6-yard box was headed off the line by Hackney.

It was then Gray's turn to clear off the line when Agogo created a chance for Harris who turned and blasted the ball towards the top corner.

Carlisle created their best chance so far in the 24th minute from a corner when the ball was cleared only as far as Paul Murray. The ball came back into the box and Paul Smith had to pounce forward to prevent a dangerous situation.

The home crowd thought that Forest had taken the lead when Grant Holt got away from his man and his effort found the back of the net but the offside flag was up quickly.

Carlisle were on the attack again with a good run from David Raven who got the ball away and crossed to Murray, but he wasn't quite able to keep the ball in as he ran to the by-line and Smith smothered it just to make sure.

Southall made a quick break and crossed well to Agogo who fired over the cross, but it was deflected by Peter Murphy and went out for a Forest throw-in.

Forest were awarded a penalty when Murphy brought Agogo down inside the box. There were protests from the Carlisle players which resulted in a booking for Gray.

But Grant Holt shot along the ground and it was easy for Westwood to pounce on the ball.

This gave Carlisle confidence and when Simon Hackney got away and fired in a shot from the left Wes Morgan did well to head the ball out for a corner.

The away side produced their best football of the half and looked particularly threatening from a succession of corners.

And a good cross from Karl Hawley was only just out of reach of Kevin Gall who was unmarked inside the box.

Forest had a couple of half-chances in stoppage time but the were easily dealt with by Westwood.

Harris got the ball in the back of the net two minutes into the second half when he beat the offside trap but the ball was clearly controlled by his arm.

Carlisle also started the half well and Chris Lumsdon had an effort bounce off the crossbar.

And the away side continued to trouble Forest as they put in cross after cross with Smith getting on the end of Murray's effort to put it out for a corner.

Forest had their first effort of the half saved when Southall's corner found Agogo whose header was grabbed out of the air by Westwood.

After some good build-up play Southall's final effort was soft and easily caught by the Carlisle keeper.

And Southall had another shot saved when he got on the end of Agogo's cross.

Scott Dobie came on to play against his former club, replacing Grant Holt, who had probably been the least effective of the three strikers.

Gary Holt was only just over the bar when Southall sent the ball back to him and he fired in a shot from 25 yards.

Forest were lucky not to concede a goal when Carlisle should have scored from a low cross to the back post and Murray missed an open goal.

Agogo made a great break, with Dobie running ahead in support but he was unable to control the cross.

As Carlisle again put Forest under pressure, Hawley put in a close-range shot which Smith did well to gather up as the ball crashed into him.

And Kevin Gall saw his effort run diagonally across the face of goal and trickle out the other side, just inches wide.

With five minutes to go a double substitution saw Jack Lester replace Harris and Gary Holt go off for John Thompson.

But Lester's start wasn't good and he was given a yellow card for 'diving' in the penalty area. Forest had a better shout for a penalty when Agogo was brought down seconds later but the referee waved play on.

Carlisle were awarded a free kick in the final minute five yards outside the D and Murphy's effort hit Morgan and went out for a corner, which was the final ball of the game.