Wood falls flat but Forest hold out for a replay

FOREST striker Chris Wood striker has hardly had put a foot wrong lately but he lost his way at Ashton Gate last night.

The in-form Kiwi had struck six goals in his previous six games but he failed to capitalise when substitute Morgan Gibbs-White carved out the best opportunity of a tight contest.

Wood should have secured Forest’s passage into the fifth round but he had a game to forget as he struggled to make an impact and his off-night was capped by his second-half miss.

Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo showed just how seriously he is taking the competition by fielding the same side that began their 3-2 defeat at Brentford.

Despite that, his team spent much of the first half on the back foot as veteran Matty James dominated the midfield exchanges as Championship side City went in search of their second Premier League scalp following the 1-0 defeat of West Ham.

But Nuno’s defence held firm and showed enough resilience and know-how to quell City’s vibrant advances.

When Forest did start showing more attacking ambition Forest skipper Ryan Yates had a shot saved by Max O’Leary.

Wood hardly got into the game but when he did Forest should have been ahead just before the break.

The striker led a breakaway before Callum Hudson-Odoi teed up Danilo whose curling effort whistled just wide.

Forest fans’ hearts were in their mouths moments later when Jason Knight rose to meet Taylor Gardner-Hickman’s cross but the midfielder headed just over Matt Turner’s goal.

Nuno sent on the talisman Gibbs-White after the break and he galvanised his side as he found plenty of space to pull the attacking strings.

The former Wolves man oozed class and his cross to Wood should have seen the deadlock broken but he was unable to get enough power on his header and O’Leary saved easily on the hour.

Hudson-Odoi then unleashed a rasping shot which hit the sidenetting, as did a rising effort from City’s Cameron Pring but neither side could find a winner.