Bristol City delivered a spirited display, securing an FA Cup replay against Nottingham Forest following a goalless draw in the fourth-round clash at Ashton Gate.
Tommy Conway squandered a notable opportunity for the Championship hosts as his half volley from the cross by Albania midfielder Anis Mehmeti veered wide.
Nottingham Forest also created a promising chance through Chris Wood and Callum Hudson-Odoi, with Brazilian midfielder Danilo failing to find the target.
The two teams are set to face each other again at the City Ground during the week beginning February 5.
After eliminating West Ham in the third round, City aimed to achieve a rare feat of knocking out more than one top-flight opponent in the same FA Cup campaign, a feat not accomplished since 1919-20.
Under the management of Liam Manning, City displayed a threatening attacking presence, especially in the second half, but failed to compel Forest goalkeeper Matt Turner into making a significant save.
Back to the City Ground
Nuno Espirito Santo achieved his first clean sheet in his seventh attempt as Forest’s manager, thanks to a resilient defensive display by his team.
Despite the enthusiastic support from a lively crowd, Bristol City managed nine attempts throughout the 90 minutes but failed to register any on target.
Following Conway’s earlier missed opportunity, Cameron Pring had another excellent chance for a potential 85th-minute winner but ended up shooting into the side-netting.
In a nail-biting conclusion, Chris Wood, who once had a loan stint at Bristol City in 2012, mistimed a header that seemed destined for the goal. Additionally, Callum Hudson-Odoi also found the side-netting late in the match.
Having previously required a replay and extra time to eliminate League One Blackpool in the third round, Forest now find themselves in a similar situation, needing to secure another replay for a chance to advance to the fifth round.
In the end, a draw seemed a fair outcome. Forest, currently 16th in the Premier League with a four-point buffer from the bottom three, will face Arsenal at home and Bournemouth away before the replay.
As for Bristol City, their undefeated streak continues after three encounters with Premier League teams in this season’s FA Cup—two against West Ham and one against Forest—despite their 13th position in the Championship.
Liam Manning aims for his players to draw confidence from these performances, hoping it will contribute to an enhancement of their league standing.