Battling Rovers keep out Forest

Managerless Blackburn saw their winless streak extended to three games as Nottingham Forest claimed a point in a 0-0 draw at the City Ground.

A share of the spoils was enough to move Rovers, who have temporarily installed Eric Black at the helm following Steve Kean's resignation last week, back into the play-off spots, but the opportunity to move into the top two was one which eluded them. It was Forest who will feel they did more to earn a victory, though, with Paul Robinson saving brilliantly from Lewis McGugan on the stroke of half-time. However, the hosts looked toothless up front in the absence of suspended duo Dexter Blackstock and Simon Cox. Billy Sharp failed to seize the initiative, firing Forest's best chance wide. Not even the arrival of Jermaine Jenas from the hosts' bench in the second period could provide Sean O'Driscoll's men with a spark, as they were unable to secure three points for the fifth game in succession. Given the hosts were without the two strikers they started with against Derby on Sunday, Blackstock and Cox both banned, it was perhaps not surprising that their attacking forays lacked a cutting edge. Barring a couple of simple saves, both Robinson and opposite number Lee Camp were virtual spectators until the former was called into action prior to the half-time whistle. McGugan's quick thinking to fire in a shot had Robinson scrambling across his goal to push the ball wide. From the resulting corner, Sharp had a shot blocked before Scott Dann headed away Henri Lansbury's goal-bound strike as the hosts finished the half on a high. O'Driscoll's side carried that momentum into the second period as a rasping effort from Andy Reid flew just over the crossbar. Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes could not get into the game and his frustration only grew on the hour-mark when Chris Cohen clipped his heels inside the area, with referee Mick Russell ignoring Rovers' protestations. Lansbury warmed Robinson's hands again, jinking inside before unleashing a left-footed effort which the former England stopper palmed back out. Gael Givet, who did not reappear for the second half in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Charlton, made a vital intervention from Andy Reid's cross with two Forest players lurking. Not to be outdone by his fellow full-back, Bradley Orr got himself in the right place to avert more danger as Forest turned up the heat. Reid was continuing to orchestrate play and he picked out Sharp inside the box, but he was unable to break his Forest duck as the on-loan Southampton striker fired wide. O'Driscoll had suggested at the weekend that fellow loanee Jenas, who started his career at the City Ground, was not ready to be thrown into the hustle and bustle of the Championship, but he came off the bench to huge cheers with 18 minutes left. However, the Tottenham midfielder's arrival failed to galvanise his team-mates, although Simon Gillett's deflected effort went narrowly wide late on.