SIMON Cox netted his second goal in two games to help Nottingham Forest claim a point against table-topping Burnley.
The striker headed home from close range three minutes before half time to cancel out a Sam Vokes penalty.
That had been awarded after Gonzalo Jara had handled a cross from Kieran Trippier, with Vokes converting emphatically to bag his tenth goal of the season.
It was an encouraging performance from Billy Davies' side who more than held their own against the Championship's form side.
Although they did suffer the late blow of seeing skipper Chris Cohen limp off in injury time with what looked to be a knee injury.
Forest's defensive crisis was eased prior to kick off as Jack Hobbs fought his way off his sickbed to take a place in the heart of the back four alongside Jamaal Lascelles.
Billy Davies was without the services of two key midfielders, however, with David Vaughan and Andy Reid both having picked up hamstring injuries on international duty, with Wales and Ireland respectively.
Radi Majewski, restored to the Reds midfield as a result, had an early chance to test keeper Tom Heaton, with the Burnley man getting down well, to his left, to make an awkward save.
A surging run from skipper Chris Cohen catalysed a dangerous moment for Forest, but his clever ball to Simon Cox was not controlled well by the striker, giving the Clarets the chance to clear.
Henri Lansbury was booked for a challenge on Michael Kightly, when it seemed the Forest midfielder had won the ball.
But the former Arsenal man almost got his revenge after Cox had been brought down on the edge of the box, with Lansbury's resulting free kick bouncing away off the bar, when it seemed the ball would find the net.
Another Cohen dart down the left created another opportunity, with the captain again crossing for Cox, who this time flicked a header narrowly over.
A Hobbs back pass to Darlow looked as though it was going to fall short, with the keeper just managing to clear as Sam Vokes closed him down.
Cox tested Heaton at the other end with a bending shot, fired across the face of goal, that the keeper just managed to push away.
Forest had started the game well, but it was to be the visitors who took the lead, as Forest conceded a penalty for the third game running.
Jara did seem to stick out a hand to block a cross from Kieran Trippier, with referee Carl Boyeson quick to point to the spot. And Vokes was equally decisive with his spot kick, driving a low shot into the bottom corner, to Darlow's right.
Burnley's lead was cancelled out just before half time, with a moment of brilliance from Jamie Paterson carving out an equaliser. The former Walsall player darted into space down the right, following some quick footwork, before delivering an inch-perfect cross to the far post.
The quality of the ball was such that it left Cox with the simple task of heading home, virtually on the line, with keeper Heaton a helpless observer.
A mix up between Hobbs and Cohen then allowed Ings to surge into the Forest penalty area from the right and cut back a clever ball for the onrushing Scott Arfield, at the start of the second half. But substitute Nathaniel Chalobah, brought on for Lichaj after the interval, produced a vital first touch, sliding in to make an outstanding block and deflect the winger's shot around the post.
A driven shot from Majewski was well held by Heaton, as Forest pushed for a second goal.
But Hobbs had to produce an outstanding, perfectly timed challenge, to thwart Ings, when it seemed the striker was set to race clean through on goal.
Ings, Burnley's top scorer this season, was looking lively and had another effort, in the form of a low shot, deflected wide of the post.
Forest brought on both Djamel Abdoun and Darius Henderson as the game wore on, with the home side starting to look the more likely to make something happen.
But, while Chalobah lifted a shot just over the bar, it was Darlow who was again called upon to make an important save, parrying a powerful strike from Arfield.
Forest might have snatched a winner with Chalobah close to getting the vital touch amid a late goal mouth scramble.
But Forest also suffered a late blow when Cohen limped off with an injury. The skipper tried to carry on initially, but ultimately had to limp off down the tunnel, reducing Forest to ten men during injury time as they had used all three substitutes.
Forest: Darlow, Lichaj (Chalobah 45), Hobbs, Lascelles, Cohen, Jara, Paterson (Henderson 76), Lansbury, Majewski (Abdoun 69), Mackie, Cox. Subs: de Vries, Harding, Tudgay, Derbyshire.
Burnley: Heaton, Arfield, Ings, Duff, Edgar, Kightly (Treacy 63), Trippier, Vokes, Shackell, Jones, Mee. Subs: Cisak, Lafferty, Stanislas, Stock, Long, Noble.
Referee: Carl Boyeson
Attendance: 22,877
