Match ends, Hull City 1, Nottingham Forest 1.
HullHull City1Nottm ForestNottingham Forest1
Sone Aluko's equaliser denied Paul Williams victory in his first game as Nottingham Forest boss, but Hull missed the chance to go second in the table.
The Tigers, who have now won just once in six Championship matches, would have gone above Middlesbrough with victory.
Forest sacked boss Dougie Freedman on Sunday after a run of five defeats in six, but Gary Gardner's 30-yard strike put them ahead at the break.
Hull substitute Aluko rescued a draw, sliding the ball in after a deflection.
The goal came with 17 minutes remaining and lifted a restless home crowd who had seen their side struggle to create chances against an impressive Forest defence.
Although Abel Hernandez hit the post early on, Hull, who drop to fourth, were lifeless in attack and Gardner's sensational strike, after a neat passing move, increased the nerves.
Reds substitute Oliver Burke, who replaced debutant Federico Macheda following his loan move from Cardiff, could have made it 2-0 after a swift counter-attack.
But the hosts rallied, with Aluko making the most of a cruel deflection from Tom Huddlestone's shot to make it 1-1 and Mohamed Diame wasting a great chance for victory when he fired an effort just wide.
Hull manager Steve Bruce:
"It's really frustrating. We don't deserve to lose the game, that's for sure and they've scored a wonder goal and we've had enough chances to settle us down really.
"There's still 10 games to go or whatever it is. There's a lot of water to go under the bridge but we have to handle the situation at home better than what we're handling it at the moment. Everybody's anxious, which is not a good thing.
"We need to go up to Middlesbrough and get a result and hopefully that can be the case - there is no reason why we can't - and come back for the last five games and produce the sort of performances which has got us in this position because the last two or three weeks has been very frustrating."
Nottingham Forest manager Paul Williams:
"I don't think anyone gave us a chance tonight. Credit to the players that we took the game to Hull, especially early on.
"I asked every player to be themselves and be the best they could. Don't think it's about me and playing for me, just play for yourselves."
"My job is to prepare the team for a spicy local derby [against Derby County on Saturday] and that is what I will do.
"There are so many permutations, players who have played for both teams. The game isn't going to be about me."
Line-ups
Hull
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1McGregor
- 2OdubajoSubstituted forAlukoat 58'minutes
- 21Dawson
- 6Davies
- 26RobertsonBooked at 41minsSubstituted forAkpomat 80'minutes
- 27El MohamadyBooked at 76mins
- 8Huddlestone
- 11Clucas
- 10Snodgrass
- 17Diamé
- 9Hernández
Substitutes
- 4Bruce
- 12Maguire
- 16Jakupovic
- 19Akpom
- 20Hayden
- 24Aluko
- 25Diomande
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-5-1
- 1de Vries
- 2Lichaj
- 5Mills
- 4Mancienne
- 3Jokic
- 15Mendes da GraçaBooked at 74minsSubstituted forBlackstockat 85'minutes
- 24Vaughan
- 22Gardner
- 8CohenSubstituted forTescheat 72'minutes
- 38OsbornBooked at 44mins
- 18MachedaSubstituted forBurkeat 58'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Wilson
- 23Blackstock
- 26Evtimov
- 32Tesche
- 34Walker
- 35Burke
- 37Grant
- Referee:
- Andy Davies
- Attendance:
- 15,663
Match Stats
Home TeamHullAway TeamNottm Forest
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hull City 1, Nottingham Forest 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Abel Hernández (Hull City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sone Aluko with a cross.
Post update
Michael Dawson (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Dexter Blackstock (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Foul by Robert Snodgrass (Hull City).
Post update
Bojan Jokic (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Matt Mills.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Mohamed Diamé (Hull City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Michael Mancienne.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Gary Gardner (Nottingham Forest) because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt missed. Sone Aluko (Hull City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Robert Snodgrass.
Substitution
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Dexter Blackstock replaces Ryan Mendes.
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Michael Dawson.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ben Osborn (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Oliver Burke.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Hull City. Chuba Akpom replaces Andrew Robertson.
Post update
Delay in match Matt Mills (Nottingham Forest) because of an injury.
Booking
Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
