Nottingham Forest 0 v Charlton Athletic 0

First draw of the season for the Addicks who will be pleased with another clean sheet away from home. I couldn't pick up the Radio Kent commentary - it was feint in south-east London last season but apparently inaudible this year. Instead I tried to follow the game on Sky but our match was way down the priorty list, even with only three Premier league fixtures kicking off at 3pm. Reports from the City ground were limited and there was more to be gleaned from the club's own text updates. 

The main news was that Andy Gray was sacrificed by Alan Pardew in favour of a defensive formation which saw Grant Basey brought into a five-man midfield and Luke Varney was left to operate up front alone. Like in midweek, we rode our first half luck and Forest came close to scoring after six minutes when Nicky Weaver made a fine save from Robert Earnshaw. Martin, Earnshaw and Moussi all went close in the opening 20 minutes before the game settled down.

Bouazza had a couple of shots saved by Paul Smith just before the break.

Fortune went off injured on the hour, which will be a concern for Pards as Linvoy Primus picked up a knock yesterday and was left at home which leaves us precariously short of cover. Let's hope neither are seriously inujred. Darren Ambrose came on for Fortune, so I assume Basey dropped to left-back and Martin Cranie moved into his more favoured position in the centre of defence.  Weaver saved from Martin and Lloyd Sam headed over before being substitued for Andy Gray. Again, I will asume this was part of Alan Pardew's game plan as we tried to step up the pace and get a winner. Gray and Ambrose both had shots saved before the end and Forest were already down to 1o-men as Andy Thornhill was dismissed for a second yellow.

It would be easy to see this on the face of it as two points lost for a lack of ambition but we should acknowledge that we had to fight to stay in the game and the five in midfield may have helped us keep parity into the second half. A point away from home is never a bad result and with QPR and Sheffield United both losing away at Coventry and Norwich respectively, we shouldn't grumble too much.

Elsewhere, Big Chris Iwelumo continues to prosper in a more attacking side and he returned for Wolves today with an impressive hat-trick at high-flying Preston, as Wanderers increased their lead at the top of the table to three points. Wolves will lose Iwelumo and goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey for at least one game as both were dismissed late on; Iwelumo for a Coatbridge Kiss on Sean St. Leger and Hennessey for a professional foul which lead to Preston's consolation goal. 

Coventry and Bristol City both move above the Addicks as we slip to tenth. Chris Coleman's Sky Blues edged QPR out 1-0 at the Ricoh Arena whilst Bristol City thumped Doncaster Rovers 4-1 at Ashton Gate. The good news for us though, was that only two (Wolves and Bristol City) of the top ten won today, so our point keeps us within a win of fourth place.

Our next opponents, Sheffield Wednesday could only manage a 0-0 home draw with Ipswich and next up after that are Palace who were beaten at home 2-1 by Plymouth Argyle. We have a great opportunity for another 4 or 6 points in the next two games which would move us into the play-off zone and set-us up for Ipswich at home and Cardiff City away.