Substitutes Simon Cox and Dan Harding were on target as Nottingham Forest came from 2-0 down to deny Birmingham City victory and maintain their unbeaten start to the league season.

Forest edged a scoreless first half but trailed to two goals in three minutes.

Hayden Mullins opened the scoring with a 15-yard volley and Marlon King's shot from the edge of the area made it 2-0.

But Cox's exquisite finish gave Forest a glimmer of hope and Dan Harding rescued a point with a late strike.

Forest, who drop to sixth in the Championship table, will feel they deserved at least a point having wasted a number of decent openings in an entertaining game at the City Ground.

Dexter Blackstock headed an early chance over the bar for the hosts, and Blues keeper Jack Butland then had to recover from his own mistake to produce a smart stop to keep out a Billy Sharp strike and deny the striker his first Forest goal.

Butland was also forced into action to keep out a dangerous Lewis McGugan cross after a fine counter-attack led to an almighty goalmouth scramble in which Sharp, McGugan and Adlene Guedioura all went close.

The visitors finally sparked into life and nearly went ahead against the run of play when debutant Leroy Lita teed up King only for keeper Lee Camp to race from his line and pull off a fine block.

But Birmingham were much improved after the interval and, with substitute Nathan Redmond in fine form, looked all set for victory following a devastating three-minute spell.

A fine Mullins strike put them in control on 69 minutes and Redmond evaded two challenges before finding King, who finished brilliantly from the edge of the area to double the lead.

But Cox - who seemed likely to miss the match with a foot injury - controlled Sam Hutchinson's long ball brilliantly and instantly flicked the ball over Butland to make it 2-1.

And home pressure was finally rewarded four minutes from time following some great work from Greg Halford when Harding's shot took a deflection off Pablo Ibanez and went in at the far post.

The result means Forest remain unbeaten in the league, while Birmingham who are just one place above the relegation zone, can at least celebrate a first away point this season.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Nottingham Forest

  • 01 Camp
  • 02 Hutchinson Booked
  • 05 Collins Booked
  • 15 Halford
  • 26 Ayala Booked
  • 04 Gillett (Majewski - 80' )
  • 07 Guedioura (Harding - 74' )
  • 10 McGugan
  • 11 Reid
  • 23 Blackstock (Cox - 60' Booked )
  • 24 Sharp

Substitutes

  • 12 Darlow
  • 03 Harding
  • 18 Moloney
  • 06 Moussi
  • 21 Coppinger
  • 28 Majewski
  • 19 Cox

Birmingham

  • 01 Butland
  • 03 Murphy
  • 04 Caldwell
  • 05 Pablo
  • 28 Caddis
  • 07 Burke (Redmond - 70' )
  • 08 Mullins
  • 11 Lovenkrands (Elliott - 49' )
  • 23 Spector
  • 09 King
  • 29 Lita (Fahey - 79' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Doyle
  • 06 Davies
  • 12 Morrison
  • 15 Elliott
  • 18 Fahey
  • 22 Redmond
  • 19 Zigic
Ref: Halsey
Att: 22,738

Match Stats

Shots

9 12

On target

4 7

Corners

4 3

Fouls

12 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:16 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +3:38

Billy Sharp is caught offside. Jack Butland restarts play with the free kick.

89:49

Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Billy Sharp goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

89:07

Shot from just outside the box by Keith Fahey misses to the right of the target.

87:54

Wade Elliott takes the free kick.

87:54 Booking

Booking Booking for Simon Cox.

87:46

Simon Cox challenges Nathan Redmond unfairly and gives away a free kick.

85:35

Assist on the goal came from Dan Harding.

85:35 Goal scored

Goal - Pablo Ibanez - Nott'm For 2 - 2 Birmingham Pablo Ibanez concedes an own goal. Nottm Forest 2-2 Birmingham.

84:42

The ball is delivered by Sam Hutchinson, clearance made by Pablo Ibanez.

83:29

Dan Harding produces a cross, Jack Butland makes a save.

79:57 Substitution

Substitution (Nottm Forest) makes a substitution, with Radoslaw Majewski coming on for Simon Gillett.

79:46

Shot by Lewis McGugan from a long way out goes over the crossbar.

78:07 Substitution

Substitution Keith Fahey replaces Leroy Lita.

76:16

Shot from outside the penalty box by Wade Elliott goes wide right of the goal.

74:37

Direct free kick taken by Steven Caldwell.

74:37 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Danny Collins for unsporting behaviour.

74:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Collins on Leroy Lita.

73:51 Substitution

Substitution Dan Harding joins the action as a substitute, replacing Adlene Guedioura.

72:57

The assist for the goal came from Lewis McGugan.

72:57 Goal scored

Goal - Simon Cox - Nott'm For 1 - 2 Birmingham Goal scored by Simon Cox from close in high into the middle of the goal. Nottm Forest 1-2 Birmingham.

70:44

The assist for the goal came from Nathan Redmond.

70:44 Goal scored

Goal - Marlon King - Nott'm For 0 - 2 Birmingham Marlon King finds the back of the net with a goal from just outside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Nottm Forest 0-2 Birmingham.

70:25

Wade Elliott produces a cross, clearance by Daniel Ayala.

69:31 Substitution

Substitution Nathan Redmond on for Christopher Burke.

68:34

The assist for the goal came from Marlon King.

68:34 Goal scored

Goal - Hayden Mullins - Nott'm For 0 - 1 Birmingham Hayden Mullins grabs a goal from the edge of the penalty area high into the middle of the goal. Nottm Forest 0-1 Birmingham.

67:03

The ball is delivered by Andy Reid, clearance by Steven Caldwell.

65:03

Adlene Guedioura sends in a cross, clearance by Steven Caldwell.

64:34

Sam Hutchinson produces a cross, Pablo Ibanez makes a clearance.

63:03

Foul by Leroy Lita on Sam Hutchinson, free kick awarded. Lee Camp restarts play with the free kick.

61:13

Adlene Guedioura has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide left of the goal.

60:36

The ball is sent over by Wade Elliott, Lee Camp makes a save.

59:18 Substitution

Substitution Dexter Blackstock goes off and Simon Cox comes on.

59:04

Marlon King takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.

57:31

Daniel Ayala challenges Leroy Lita unfairly and gives away a free kick. Wade Elliott restarts play with the free kick.

56:56

The ball is crossed by Christopher Burke, Adlene Guedioura makes a clearance.

56:31

Centre by Greg Halford, Steven Caldwell makes a clearance.

55:07

David Murphy crosses the ball.

53:49

Wade Elliott restarts play with the free kick.

53:49 Booking

Booking Sam Hutchinson is given a yellow card.

53:43

Sam Hutchinson concedes a free kick for a foul on Wade Elliott.

53:33

The ball is crossed by Christopher Burke, clearance by Sam Hutchinson.

51:43

The ball is swung over by Andy Reid.

51:14

Wade Elliott takes a shot. Lee Camp makes a save.

48:53

Direct free kick taken by Jack Butland.

48:53 Substitution

Substitution Peter Lovenkrands goes off and Wade Elliott comes on.

48:53

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Pablo Ibanez by Dexter Blackstock.

45:22

Billy Sharp is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Jack Butland.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:16 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +0:17

The offside flag is raised against Dexter Blackstock. Free kick taken by Jack Butland.

44:40

Unfair challenge on Dexter Blackstock by Jonathan Spector results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Lewis McGugan.

41:38

Marlon King produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.

41:09

David Murphy produces a drilled left-footed shot from 25 yards. Dexter Blackstock gets a block in.

39:53

Daniel Ayala concedes a free kick for a foul on Marlon King. Strike comes in from David Murphy from the free kick, blocked by Andy Reid.

39:00

Lewis McGugan takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Marlon King.

37:47

Foul by Peter Lovenkrands on Sam Hutchinson, free kick awarded. Andy Reid takes the direct free kick.

36:34

The ball is delivered by Hayden Mullins, Leroy Lita takes a shot. Save by Lee Camp.

34:19

Free kick awarded for a foul by Pablo Ibanez on Billy Sharp. Free kick taken by Daniel Ayala.

30:37

Effort from outside the penalty box by Leroy Lita goes wide right of the goal.

29:15

Adlene Guedioura has an effort at goal from long distance that goes wide left.

27:11

Foul by Adlene Guedioura on David Murphy, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by David Murphy.

26:49

A cross is delivered by Christopher Burke, clearance by Sam Hutchinson.

26:27

Short corner worked by Christopher Burke.

26:01

Corner taken right-footed by Christopher Burke, clearance by Daniel Ayala.

25:38

Marlon King takes a shot. Save made by Lee Camp.

22:31

Handball by Adlene Guedioura. Direct free kick taken by Jack Butland.

21:29

Christopher Burke takes the direct free kick.

21:29 Booking

Booking Daniel Ayala receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

21:20

Leroy Lita fouled by Daniel Ayala, the ref awards a free kick.

21:09

The offside flag is raised against Dexter Blackstock. Jack Butland takes the direct free kick.

19:19

Danny Collins takes a shot. Save by Jack Butland.

18:55

Andy Reid takes the inswinging corner, Daniel Ayala takes a shot.

18:43

The ball is swung over by Billy Sharp, blocked by David Murphy.

17:03

Foul by Hayden Mullins on Adlene Guedioura, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Lee Camp.

16:26

Lewis McGugan takes the outswinging corner, Unfair challenge on Pablo Ibanez by Danny Collins results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jack Butland.

15:26

Unfair challenge on Dexter Blackstock by Paul Caddis results in a free kick. Shot comes in from Lewis McGugan from the free kick, Jack Butland makes a save.

13:50

Unfair challenge on David Murphy by Sam Hutchinson results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jack Butland.

11:11

The ball is swung over by Christopher Burke.

10:54

Andy Reid takes a shot. Jack Butland makes a save.

10:41

The ball is delivered by Sam Hutchinson, save by Jack Butland.

9:54

Christopher Burke takes the outswinging corner, Danny Collins manages to make a clearance.

9:43

Marlon King produces a cross, Greg Halford gets a block in.

5:06

Andy Reid concedes a free kick for a foul on Christopher Burke. Direct free kick taken by Hayden Mullins.

3:03

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Andy Reid, Unfair challenge on Steven Caldwell by Dexter Blackstock results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jack Butland.

2:29

Unfair challenge on Andy Reid by Marlon King results in a free kick. Lewis McGugan crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by David Murphy.

0:14

Steven Caldwell challenges Dexter Blackstock unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Simon Gillett.

0:00

The game begins.

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