NOTTINGHAM Forest battled their way to a hard-earned point at Reading, as a bizarre goal from Robert Earnshaw helped them claw their way back from behind.

The striker struck in the 49th minute after a mistake from keeper Adam Federici, canceling out a first-half strike from Alex Pearce.

Billy Davies will again have been cursing his luck however, with his side's habit of failing to make the most of their chances maintained on a day when they might have claimed all three points.

Forest had been forced into a late change to their squad as skipper Paul McKenna limped out of the pre-match warm-up with a hamstring problem.

Pole Radi Majewski was drafted into the side instead.

And, after only nine minutes, Reading themselves had to make a change as Andy Griffin picked up a problem and was replaced by Bryn Gunnarsson.

By that stage, the home side could have been behind already, with Majewski having failed to properly connect with a shot at the far post, following a deep cross from the advancing Luke Chambers.

And Forest twice came close again, through the lively figure of Earnshaw.

Firstly the striker was sent scampering into the box following a clever ball from Dexter Blackstock, only for Adam Federici to beat him to it.

And the keeper made an even better save moments later, when the striker cut in to bend a shot menacingly towards the bottom corner.

Forest then went behind in controversial fashion, as Jimmy Kebe appeared to handle the ball as it was half cleared from the Forest box – but play was allowed to continue, with the Malian delivering the ball back into the danger zone, where, after a mad scramble, Alex Pearce drove the ball into the back of the net.

Federici was at his impressive best again as half-time approached, diving full-stretch high to his left to steer away a diving header from Paul Anderson, following good work from Blackstock wide on the left.

Although Jobi McAnuff also came close to adding a second for Reading, firing wide when presented with a good opportunity ten yards out.

And Camp had to produce heroics to deny Marcus Williams, plunging to his left to swat away a shot from the left-back after he had advanced down the flank.

Camp was in action immediately in the second half, pushing away a drive from Brian Howard as Reading forced a flurry of corners.

But it was Federici who blotted his copy book at the other end, with a remarkable mistake that handed Forest an equaliser in the 49th minute.

The keeper drove an attempted clearance, when under little pressure, into a melee of players that included Pearce and Earnshaw – and the striker emerged with the ball, taking the ball around the Reading number one and slotting it into an empty net.

At this stage, Forest were the team that looked the more likely to score, with Earnshaw coming close to finding a hole in the Reading defence, Anderson brought down just as he surged down the flank and substitute Lewis McGugan heading wide – although the effort would have been ruled out for offside.

But Gylfi Sigurdsson also bent a spectacular shot narrowly the wrong side of the post for Reading, as the home side forged a spell of pressure of their own.

A clever free-kick saw Cohen drive a shot that was deflected wide, while McGugan stumbled at the vital moment after he had done all the hard work, riding two challenges to dance into the box.

Forest owed a debt of thanks to Camp again however, as he reacted smartly to push away a Kebe effort late on.

Substitute Nathan Tyson missed a late chance to shine at his former club, firing wide from the edge of the box.

The draw may have seen Forest notch up their 13th away game without a win, but it will still have been regarded as a satisfying point by Davies.