Nottingham Forest give up top spot after draw with Brighton & Hove Albion

Nottingham Forest have let slip their two-point cushion at the summit of Championship table and are now second below Norwich City, following a goalless draw with away side Brighton & Hove Albion at the City Ground this afternoon.

Forest dominated the early stages of the game and they threatened first as Henri Lansbury lifted a header from the centre of the box over the crossbar, following a cross from Daniel Fox.

Britt Assombalonga was next to have a go for the home side, as the striker rifled in an attempt from a difficult angle, but it flew just past the right post.

The home side continued to dominate and their possession was nearly made to count, but Robert Tesche's long-range effort was brilliantly kept out by David Stockdale in the top corner.

Albion might have turned the game on its head just before the break as Adrinn Colunga saw his effort from the centre of the box kept out at the bottom left corner by Karl Darlow.

Brighton started promisingly in the second period and they should have gone ahead, only to see Lewis Dunk fire his attempt straight at the keeper from the centre of the box.

The away side could have earned a win with just under 10 minutes to play, but Craig Mackail-Smith's right-footed shot from the left side of the box flew wide.

However, the miss of the half was to come late on when Forest centre-back Michael Mancienne headed high and wide in the dying embers following an enterprising cross from Ben Osborn, leaving things to end goalless.