Reading 1-1 Nottingham Forest: Andy Carroll inspires hosts to battling draw
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Philip Zinckernagel's solo run and shot gave Nottingham Forest an early lead
Reading ended a difficult week off the pitch by battling back to secure a draw against Nottingham Forest.
New signing Andy Carroll played a role in the build-up to their second-half equaliser from Scott Dann as the Royals cancelled out Philip Zinckernagel's early solo strike.
It was the first time Reading had been in action since being deducted six points for breaking EFL financial rules.
Forest stretched their unbeaten away run to seven matches but could have won it had former Reading loanee Lewis Grabban not had a shot blocked on the line by home captain Liam Moore.
Reading ended a run of back-to-back home defeats, but Veljko Paunovic's side, who dropped three places to 19th before kick-off following the points deduction, have won just once in their past six league games.
Forest got off to a flier as Zinckernagel cut in from the left touchline, beat three defenders and fired a right-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area past Luke Southwood.
Danny Drinkwater was denied a chance to claim an immediate equaliser when Brice Samba got down to block his low shot from Andy Yiadom's cutback and the Forest goalkeeper was alert to deny both Baba Rahman and George Puscas goals before the break.
The visitors nearly doubled their lead early in the second half when Grabban's run to the byeline and shot was kept out by Moore, but the introduction of former Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham striker Carroll just after the hour mark inspired Reading.
A few days after agreeing a short-term deal until mid-January, the England international's first involvement was to nod down a cross that was scrambled clear for a corner.
John Swift's low delivery was swept in by Dann and Reading looked favourites to go on and win it.
But they failed to test Samba much more in closing stages as he held a speculative effort from 20 yards by Puscas while Grabban spurned another good opening for Forest when he struck the side-netting.
Reading drop a place to 20th, two points above the bottom three, while Forest stay 13th.
Reading manager Veljko Paunovic told BBC Radio Berkshire:
"It's not the result we wanted or are satisfied with, but at the end of the day, it's another point and a little bit of terrain recovered.
"I'm happy with the overall performance of the team and also for a number of individuals and for the mentality of the players and also for the impression we gave to our fans and the wider world, the league.
"We showed we're going to fight and give our best and put in performances like this, be committed and have a fantastic spirit.
"Even at 1-0 down, we created opportunities and chances in attack. But we have to improve on that and how we start the games and how we start the second halves."
Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper told BBC Radio Nottingham:
"It's certainly a game we could've won based on the chances.
"If you look at the one off the line from Lewis (Grabban) and where he's gone round the keeper, we've created plenty and got in some really good areas.
"If someone was to tell me we'd have that many chances away from home, you'd certainly expect us to score more than one. In saying that, they had good moments too. I thought it was a good game.
"I would've liked us to play with a bit more control at times. I thought our game management and control was a bit off at times.
"But we're looking confident, positive and looking like we want to win games away from home."