Nottingham Forest had to be satisfied with a draw after Bristol Rovers battled back with a dogged performance in the second half to earn a share of the points.

Rovers made it difficult for Forest in the first half, defending in numbers and relying on the occasional break. But Forest eventually dominated and their perseverance was rewarded with a goal from a free kick, beautifully taken by Lewis McGugan.

Rovers were all over Forest in the second half and Forest were unable to create anything and were unable to get back into the game after the away side equalized.

The first chance of the game came to Forest in the eighth minute from McGugan's corner from the left which came in to the near post. Luke Chambers rose and got on the end of it with a powerful header which Steve Phillips did well to tip over for another corner.

A Forest defensive error almost gifted Rovers a chance when Kelvin Wilson mis-kicked, enabling Rickie Lambert to get a shot in, but it was easily plucked out of the air by Paul Smith.

And Rovers came close again when Lewis Haldane got away from Luke Chambers and sent the ball across the face of goal but just wide of the post.

Forest looked in trouble defensively again when David Pipe squared the ball across the face of goal and Haldane, under pressure from Chambers, sent the ball just over the bar.

It was the 19^th minute before Forest had another chance, a curler from 25 yards out by KrisCommons, but it was an easy save by the Rovers keeper.

And on the half hour mark Forest were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area when Junior Agogo was brought down. KrisCommons effort was curling towards the top corner and Phillips did well to put the ball over for a corner.

But when Forest were given another free kick, after Commons was brought down, McGugan made no mistake and from 30 yards out he sent the ball flying into the top corner before the Rovers keeper could move.

Forest came close to a second goal three minutes before half time when McGugan did well to burst past two players, turn on the by-line and send the ball into a crowded box, where Commons acrobatically sent his effort wide.

Garath McCleary came out for the start of the second half, replacing Agogo.

The Rovers fans thought they had equalized five minutes into the half when Haldane got away from Chambers and squared the ball across the face of goal. Lambert's ball found Craig Disley but the linesman's flag was up before the ball found the back of the net.

Rovers threatened the Forest defence considerably more than they had in the first half although it was 15 minutes before they had a shot on target. Craig Hinton nodded across the face of goal and Haldane had a lot of space but headed the ball straight at Smith.

They got the equalizer in the 63^rd minute from a free kick which was taken quickly, catching out the Forest defence. Stuart Campbell's shot came in to Steve Ellliott whose header looped in at the far post.

They nearly got a quick second goal when Matt Lockwood's error gave the ball to David Pipe who squared the ball back to substitute Andy Williams, but the ball was just wide.

Forest managed to get forward on a number of occasions but struggled to get the final ball in. Mc Cleary had a good shot deflected wide but the only effort on target was a long-range shot by Chris Cohen which went straight to the Rovers' keeper.

Forest continued to be frustrated but had another chance two minutes from time when Chambers' cross found McCleary who nodded the ball down to Brett Ormerod but the Rovers' keeper jumped on the ball.

And in stoppage time, when Phillips could only punch the ball away from Lockwood's ball in, Commons cleared the crossbar from 12 yards.

The smallest League crowd of the season had had enough and there were loud boos on the final whistle.

Nottingham Forest: Paul Smith, Kelvin Wilson(C), Wes Morgan, Matt Lockwood, Luke Chambers, Lewis McGugan(James Perch 77min), Sammy Clingan, Chris Cohen(Emile Sinclair
80min), Kris Commons, Brett Ormerod, Junior Agogo(Garath McCleary 45minHT)
Subs not used: Ian Breckin, Matt Thornhill,
Bookings: Morgan 67min
Scorer: McGugan 33min

Bristol Rovers: Steve Phillips, Joe Jacobson, Craig Hinton, Steve Elliott, Stuary Campbell (C), Rickie Lambert, David Pipe, Chris Lines, Craig Disley, Lewis Haldane(Andy Williams 61min), Aaron Lescott
Subs not used: Chris Carruthers, Byron Anthony, Sean Rigg, Josh Klein-Davies
Scorer: Elliott 63min

Referee: D N Swarbrick
Attendance: 15,860 away attn: 734