Wes Morgan's second goal of the season eased the tension at Nottingham Forest but was still not enough to break the worst sequence of results under Paul Hart's reign.

The Forest defender bundled in Andy Reid's cross to earn them a deserved point after Darren Bent seemed to have sent resurgent Ipswich coasting towards another smash-and-grab away win.

But Hart's young side were guilty of squandering a host of first-half chances - Ipswich's goalkeeper Kelvin Davis was also in outstanding form - and their run of seven matches without a win is the worst since he became manager 30 months ago.

'We are disappointed not to win the match, but a point against an excellent Ipswich side is certainly something to build on,' said Hart. 'Their goalkeeper has made some excellent saves and they were busier defensively than we were. We've got to keep battling hard, work our socks off and believe that we can get out of this situation.'

Forest started well and Davis was required in the second minute to produce an outstanding reflex save from Matthieu Louis-Jean. Davis, sold by Wimbledon in the summer, excelled later to deny Gareth Williams and Reid as the home side battled to make the breakthrough. But they found themselves behind in the 62nd minute when Bent sweetly connected with the ball after Jermaine Wright had struck the crossbar from 25 yards.

Forest might easily have collapsed but they replied six minutes later, Morgan squeezing in Reid's exquisite centre. Bent almost snatched a winner but shot straight at Darren Ward in injury-time.

Ipswich manager Joe Royle had no complaints. 'Darren [Bent] could have won it for us, but I am not disappointed with a draw,' he said. 'Forest will feel aggrieved that they did not win the game after their first-half chances so it was a fair result.

'I've got no doubts that Forest are in a false position and they will be at the business end of the table come the end of the season.'

John Percy (The Guardian)