NOTTINGHAM Forest dropped out of the top six, as Ipswich ensured Billy Davies side have now not won in five games at the City Ground.
Mick McCarthy's side claimed a point from a 0-0 draw, as the first rumbles of frustration were heard on the banks of the River Trent.
The Reds have now won only two of their last nine games, following another mixed display. Simon Cox was unlucky not to extend his recent flurry of goals, hitting the bar with a header and being denied by a fine save from Dean Gerken.
But the striker, who had already been booked for a foul, could also have been sent off, when attempting to win a penalty by going down rather easily under a challenge from the keeper.
While Ipswich themselves could also have snatched all three points, following an evenly contested clash, which saw Christophe Berra denied late on by a strong save from Karl Darlow.
Jack Hobbs had to defend strongly to deny Daryl Murphy as he bore down on goal, chasing a long ball from Aaron Cresswell, as Ipswich forced a short spell of early pressure.
Former Reds skipper Luke Chambers, playing at right back for Ipswich, then delivered a testing cross into the box, which Jamaal Lascelles did well to deal with.
Another ex Forest player, David McGoldrick, demonstrated his intent to prove that the club were wrong to release him, when he cut in from the left and drove in a cross-shot that Karl Darlow pounced on effectively.
Forest hit back with their first real attack of menace, with Djamel Abdoun almost picking out Jamie Mackie with a driven cross into the centre and, after the ball had been half cleared, Nate Chalobah forcing a competent save from Dean Gerken with a driven shot from the edge of the box.
McGoldrick, in a roaming role just behind the front two, had a vicious half-volley deflected wide from a corner, from which Ipswich pushed again, with Daryl Murphy sending a header only a foot the wrong side of the post.
Frank Nouble, following a stray pass from Simon Cox, then charged half the length of the pitch, down the centre, before almost catching out Darlow with a powerful strike that the keeper required two attempts to hold.
But Forest were not without attacking threat themselves, with Andy Reid twice coming close, firstly with a curling shot, across the face of goal, which Gerken did well to push away and then with a crisply struck effort that fizzed just wide, from the edge of the box.
There was a moment of controversy when Cox burst through the centre and prodded the ball beyond the onrushing Gerken, who slid in at the striker's feet. Replays suggested that Cox had started to fall before the keeper made any contact with him.
But referee Scott Mathieson was not convinced, waving for play to continue – and replays did suggest that the striker had started to fall before the keeper made any contact with him.
Given that Cox had already been booked for attempting to haul down Nouble, the striker could consider himself fortunate not to receive a second yellow for simulation.
Still, the moment seemed to spark an additional sense of urgency in Forest. The home side saw Jamie Mackie thwarted by the reactions of Gerken, who pushed away his rising 20 yard shot. Cox then flicked a header onto the bar, as Forest built some pressure of their own.
Chalobah tried his luck from the edge of the box again, but was this time off target, as Gerken looked on relieved.
Ipswich had started strongly, but it was Forest who were taking firmer control of the game as the half wore on, with Greg Halford just failing to make contact with an Abdoun corner at the far post.
But the half did finish with McGoldrick again forcing a save from Darlow, as he flashed a low shot across the face of goal.
Cox should have put Forest ahead just before the hour mark, following tremendous work from Reid. The Irishman flashed a superb ball right across the box, to the far post, where the striker was arriving at pace. But keeper Gerken was quick of his line to make a fine save at Cox's feet.
Cox then had another shot charged down, as Forest again turned the screw in their search for a goal. Forest were looking dangerous from set pieces and, when Reid delivered a corner from the left, Gerken produced a strong punch to take the ball off the head of the charging Hobbs.
Sub Darius Henderson could have scored with one of his first touches, when Lansbury bent a delightful free kick into the box, but the striker's header was aimed straight at the keeper.
When Christophe Berra pushed forward, it almost carved out a winning goal for the visitors, as he exchanged a one-two on the edge of the box before pulling the trigger with low shot that brought the best out of Darlow, diving low to his left.
Another fine pass from Reid sent sub Matt Derbyshire racing down the right, where he won a corner, but Reid's flag kick was headed clear. The Forest midfielder also came close with a late, quickly taken free kick.
But neither side was able to find a winning goal and, when the final whistle came, it was greeted with the first grumbles of discontent from the home fans.
Forest: Darlow, Halford, Hobbs, Lascelles, Harding, Chalobah (Jara 90), Lansbury, Mackie (Henderson 68), Reid, Abdoun (Abdoun 87), Cox. Subs: de Vries, Lichaj, Paterson, Majewski.
Ipswich: Gerken, Cresswell, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Skuse, Murphy, McGoldrick (Mings 90), Tunnicliffe, Hyam, Nouble. Subs: Loach, Edwards, Anderson, Hunt, Graham, Tabb.
Referee: Scott Mathieson
Attendance: 20,996 (1,144 away)
![Nottingham Forest 0, Ipswich 0 - match report]( "Nottingham Forest 0, Ipswich 0 - match report")
