NOTTINGHAM Forest hit the woodwork four times and were denied by a string of saves from Luke Steele, as Barnsley held on for a 0-0 draw at the City Ground, to put a dent in the Reds' promotion hopes.
Billy Davies' side piled on the pressure as they went in search of the three points they needed to lift themselves back into the top six.
But they were left frustrated, as Barnsley's stubborn resolve saw them ensure Forest have now failed to win in six games.
Billy Sharp hit the post and bar, Henri Lansbury saw a header loop away off the bar and the heroic Steele pushed an Andy Reid shot onto the foot of the post, amid a string of outstanding saves on an afternoon when he often almost single-handedly held the home side at bay.
Bolton's 2-1 win over Middlesbrough saw them climb into sixth place, above Leicester City, who drew 2-2 with another of the play-off contenders, Crystal Palace.
The results left Forest trailing Bolton by two points and Palace by three, with just two games left to play, at Millwall next weekend and at home to Leicester City on the final day of the campaign.
Forest, who had not scored in the first 15 minutes of any game in the Championship this season, almost had a chance to score after just 15 seconds, as they made a lively start.
Henri Lansbury's darting run into space down the right was followed by a neat pass to Simon Cox, who went down with three Barnsley players around him – although it would have been a generous decision had referee Andy Haines pointed to the spot.
Forest had made one change to their team, with Radi Majewski brought into the starting line-up in place of Lewis McGugan, who dropped to the bench.
And the little Pole won the first of a flurry of early corners for the Reds, one of which saw them come agonisingly close to an early goal again.
Ward did well to retain possession on the edge of the box after Majewski's initial effort had been half cleared and, when he bundled the ball through to Cox his driven shot, fired across the face of goal, was deflected narrowly wide of the upright.
Forest were looking dangerous when they played with width, with Cohen finding the room to drill a cross to the near post and win another corner, after Barnsley had failed to deal with a looping ball from Hutchinson from the right.
Hutchinson, the on-loan Chelsea defender, had to be replaced in the 22nd minute, as he seemed to be struggling again with his continued knee problems. Danny Collins came on, with Greg Halford moving over into the right back position.
Forest pushed again as Majewski fired in a cross from the left, but the ball flew right across the face of goal without anyone being able to apply the vital touch.
Majewski's delivery from a corner then carved out a good chance for Lansbury, who had escaped his marker at the far post, but his powerful header bounced away off the bar.
A huge throw from Halford then picked out Sharp, who connected firmly with a diving header, but saw Luke Steele make a superb save, diving instantly to his right to hold.
While Adlene Guedioura then let fly with a fizzing shot that had the keeper producing his best again, this time diving low to his right to push away at full stretch.
When Martin Cranie brought an abrupt end to a Cohen dart down the left flank, it earned the Barnsley man a booking – and gave Forest a free kick in a dangerous area. But, while Majewski's delivery to the far post caused chaos, Barnsley were again ultimately able to clear without Forest getting a shot away.
In first half injury time, the ball fell to Guedioura for him to have another crack from distance, but Steele was again equal to it, falling to his right to push away effectively.
Five minutes into the second half and it was Barnsley who managed their first meaningful effort on goal of the entire game, with O'Grady lifting a powerful effort high and wide from just outside the penalty area.
But Sharp won a corner at the other end, almost immediately, with a driven shot that deflected wide of goal.
Andrai Jones was shown a yellow card following a late, rugged challenge on Reid. But the Irishman recovered quickly to play an integral role as Forest again came close to snatching the lead.
Reid bent in a powerful cross from the left that flew right to the far post where Lansbury attacked it with a spectacular diving header – only to see Steele pull off yet another outstanding save, when a goal had seemed certain.
The keeper was in imperious mood and, when Reid cut the ball onto his deadly left foot on the edge of the box, his low shot looked to be bound for the bottom corner, but Steele somehow managed to get the slightest of touches to push it against the post and away for a corner.
Reid delivered another great ball from the left, Sharp produced another crisp header, but Steele made another save, to keep Forest at bay once more.
Forest were denied by the woodwork yet again after Ward had headed a cross from Guedioura back into the danger zone, with Sharp smashing an instant volley against the foot of the post.
Davies then introduced substitute Lewis McGugan, as the home side cranked up their search for a goal, in the 66th minute.
The midfielder had scored in each of his last five substitute appearances but, after a dangerous early cross with one of his first touches, his first shot was wayward, dipping over the bar from the edge of the box.
Collins then sent a header over the bar from a McGugan corner, as Barnsley continued to hold out stubbornly.
A determined, driving run from Cohen earned Forest a free kick just outside the box on the left side and McGugan's driven cross was put narrowly wide of his own post by O'Grady.
Forest made a final throw of the dice as Dexter Blackstock was brought on for Majewski.
A Halford long throw again caused havoc in the box, with a Barnsley touch taking it wide of the near post when it seemed Collins might steer it home.
Marlon Harewood, the former Forest player who had come off the bench for Barnsley, caused a scare when Darlow had to save well to block his low shot.
But Forest were to suffer frustration yet again, as a cross from Reid found Sharp, who saw his header bounce away off the bar again.
And Cohen had to bring down O'Grady as Barnsley threatened on the break, with the defender collecting a booking in the process.
Forest: Darlow, Hutchinson (Collins 22), Ward, Halford, Cohen, Guedioura, Lansbury (McGugan 66), Reid, Majewski (Blackstock 83), Cox, Sharp. Subs: Moussi, Greening, Tudgay, Al-Rashidi.
Barnsley: Steele, Kennedy, Cranie, Wiseman, Jones, Perkins, Mellis, O'Brien (Harewood 77), Noble-Lazurus (Cywka 68), Scotland (Dagnall 56), O'Grady. Subs: Alnwick, Edwards, Knight, Rose.
Referee: Andy Haines, Tyne and Wear.
Attendance: 22,230 (1,190 away).
