ROBERT Earnshaw rescued a point for Nottingham Forest in this crunch relegation battle at Barnsley this afternoon.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce had headed the hosts in front 35 seconds into the second half.

But Earnshaw hit back on 68 minutes, neatly finishing Isaiah Osbourne's pass from the right to earn a 1-1 draw.

After about ten minutes the Reds Nathan Tyson neatly turned his man on the left, raced towards the corner of the box but his cross-cum-shot went wide of the far post.

Barnsley hit Forest on the counter but when Jamal Campbell-Ryce cut onto his right, but he could only drill his low shot straight at Iain Turner.

Debutant Dexter Blackstock flicked a ball through for Tyson down the wing and, when he delivered into the box, Robert Earnshaw tried to finish first time but put it over.

Blackstock struck the upright with a downward header, meeting Tyson's cross, but he was adjudged to have pushed his marker.

Cohen pushed forward before driving a shot at the Barnsley goalkeeper that he grabbed at the second attempt.

And late in the half Kozluk headed a deep cross towards the six-yard box but, on the turn, Jon Macken fired over as the half ended 0-0.

But 35 seconds after the restart Barnsley were ahead. Morgan headed out Hassell's throw but only as far as Campbell-Ryce and he looped a header into the top corner.

Six minutes later, after good work by Cohen, Earnshaw thundered a shot against the woodwork before the hosts won a penalty, Teymourian being felled in the box by Morgan.

But Campbell-Ryce was denied from the spot, Turner diving to his left to save the spot-kick.

Forest equalised when Isaiah Osbourne produced a great run down the right of the box, pulled it back for Earnshaw and the Welshman fired first time beyond Muller.

Barnsley almost regained the lead from a corner but a fingertip save from Turner put de Silva's fierce shot over the bar.

Forest could have won it at the end, first Cohen firing just wide with a 30-yard free kick before Garath McCleary put a ball across the face of goal – but nobody could get the final touch.

Tyson then weaved his way into the box only for his shot to be saved, but he limped off afterwards with a serious-looking injury before the game ended all square.

Barnsley: Muller, Hassell, Kozluk, Moore, Foster, Campbell-Ryce (Devaney, 88), Colace, de Silva, Teymourian, Macken, Mifsud (Bogdanovic, 82). Subs: Steele, El Haimour, Souza

Forest: Turner, Gunter, Wilson, Morgan, Lynch, Osbourne, Cohen, Tyson (Chambers, 90), McGugan (McCleary, 61), Blackstock, Earnshaw. Subs: Smith, Breckin, Garner

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire)

Attendance: 19,681 (3,706 away)