CITY were forced to settle for a point and a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest, as the Canaries produced a fantastic peformance that left them disappointed not to take all three points back to Carrow Road.

Chris Martin stated the side's early intentions as he hit the post twice in the space of a minute as the home side struggled to get into their stride. But City were dealt a cruel blow 35 minutes in as Russell Martin was deemed to have fouled Paul Anderson in the area, allowing Dexter Blackstock to fire home and give Forest the lead.

Heads did not drop though and City rightfully got back on level terms through Andrew Crofts just minutes later as he lifted the ball over Lee Camp in the Forest goal, giving City the momentum heading into the break.

It was more of the same for the Canaries in the second half as they continued to look the most likely to take the win. But in a thrilling end to the match, former City striker Robert Earnshaw hit the upright with just seconds remaining, to leave Norwich pleased to at least take a point for what was a superb performance.

And it soon drew much praise from Manager Paul Lambert who said: "I think that was as good as we've played since I've been here, which is a huge compliment because this is not an easy place to come. I thought we were outstanding.

"I spoke to Billy (Davies) afterwards and he said we deserved the win, which is nice of him but we were on the ascendency from the off and I am really proud of my players today.

"The 2,500 travelling fans were superb as well and I am honestly as proud as anything."

Lambert handed a first Canary start to recent loan signing Leon Barnett who lined up alongside Elliott Ward in the heart of the City defence. John Ruddy, Adam Drury, Andrew Crofts, Korey Smith, Andrew Surman and Chris Martin also returned to the side having missed City's Carling Cup defeat to Blackburn Rovers in midweek.

Forest had the first chance of the game as a Luke Chambers cross from the right eluded everyone in the area before City scrambled clear, but then the Canaries pushed forward with just six minutes gone as Chris Martin hit the woodwork twice in the space of a minute.

The returning striker was first unlucky, as he struck the angle having skipped past Kelvin Wilson to leave him one on one with Forest 'keeper Lee Camp. He then hit the post a minute later from an oportunistic free kick from 20 yards.

It was a great start for the Canaries who were unlucky not to be ahead at the City Ground and it took ten minutes to promote any sort of response from the home side, as Norwich-born Chris Cohen sent his first time shot high into the travelling Canaries contingent behind the goal.

But after a bright start to the game City continued to look the most likely going forward and were denied a penalty claim with 23 minutes on the clock, as Grant Holt looked to be bundled over in the box from an Andrew Surman free kick from the right - an appeal that referee Mathieson promptly waved away.

City were soon testing the Forest back four again, as Surman thread through Korey Smith with a chance to shoot inside the danger area. Smith had time to steady himself and aim for the bottom corner of the net, only be denied by a superb save from Forest's Lee Camp.

The Canaries pressure sparked a response from Forest this time however, as Ryan Bertrand beat Leon Barnett only for the ball to become loose from the recovering Russell Martin. It was left to Barnett to clear City's lines but in doing so sent Dexter Blackstock tumbling inside the area, leading to verocious appeals from Forest fans and players alike.

It was a warning sign for City and just four minutes later Referee Mathieson was pointing to the spot as Paul Anderson went over in the box from a Russell Martin challenge. Ironically it was left to Blackstock to convert from 12 yards, who calmly slotted home past John Ruddy and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Few inside the City Ground would deny that the Canaries were a little unfortunate to go behind in a game where they had more than matched the home side.

But City were soon back on level terms with just three minutes of the first half remaining as Andrew Crofts stabbed the ball just out of the reach of 'keeper Lee Camp following Forest's failure to clear from an Andrew Surman free kick.

It was no more than City deserved as they soon went in search of a second as the first half drew to a close, but Forest managed to withstand the pressure and would have been relieved to hear the half time whistle.

Half time: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Norwich City

Like the first half, Referee Mathieson was soon in the spotlight as he waved away early appeals for a Canaries penalty, as Grant Holt claimed to be brought down by Wes Morgan in the area.

But it was Forest who had started the second period the brighter and they almost took the lead through Paul Anderson seven minutes in, only to be denied by some superb last ditch defending as Anderson looked to tap home from a Robert Earnshaw cross.

It was to be the last involvement in the match for Anderson however, who departed as a result of his previous effort giving Nathan Tyson the chance in a now three-pronged Forest attack.

City responded with yet another superb delivery from Surman from the left, whose deep free kick almost found Korey Smith at the far post, but was instead scrambled for a corner by Forest's defence.

Guy Moussi was brought on by Billy Davies to replace Radoslaw Majewski and bring some steel to Forest's midfield, but it did little to prevent Chris Martin's effort twenty five minutes from time, as he just headed over from a Holt cross from the left.

Holt soon had a chance of his own five minutes later as an impressive display from Andrew Surman continued when the wide man thread the City frontman through on goal. Holt brushed past his marker and looked certain to give City the lead, only to be denied by yet another Lee Camp save.

The home side were being restricted to rare ventures into the Canaries half, but former City striker Robert Earnshaw almost gave Forest the lead with a spectacular dipping shot from 30 yards that dropped just over the City crossbar.

But with the game heading into the final ten minutes, City went in search of yet another late goal to cap an excellent performance at the City Ground. It almost came through Korey Smith, but he just failed to connect with a low Surman cross into the six yard area.

It was now a thrilling encounter as both sides went all out for the win. Earnshaw again threatened for Forest only to be blocked by Barnett, before City's Chris Martin was denied by some last ditch defending from Wes Morgan.

It was anyones game, but City were almost dealt the sucker blow by their former striker as Earnshaw turned and hit the post just a minute from time whilst under pressure from Barnett.

It would have been a cruel blow to the Canaries as the referee blew for full time on a thrilling encounter after three minutes of stoppage time, securing City a good point away from home despite perhaps slight disappointment at not taking the full three points on offer from such a good performance.

Full Time: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Norwich City

CITY: Ruddy, R. Martin, Drury, Crofts, Holt, Surman, Hoolahan, C. Martin, Smith, Barnett, Ward subs: Rudd (GK), Jackson, Fox, Lappin,Johnson, McNamee, Askou

FOREST: Camp, Bertrand, Chambers, Morgan, Wilson, Anderson (Tyson 54), Earnshaw, Cohen, McKenna (McGugan 71), Blackstock, Majewski (Moussi 61) subs: McGugan, Adebola, Mololney, Lynch, Darlow (GK)

REFEREE: Mr S Mathieson

ATT: 21,890 (2,611 City fans)

90th - There will be three minutes added time.

90th - Chris Martin goes close to nicking a winner for City after Surman picks him out in the box but the City striker sees Forest defender Morgan block his driven effort.

89th - Earnshaw turns in the box and cracks as shot against Ruddy's near-post as the hosts search a winner.

85th - City win a corner which the Forest defence clear but only as far a Hoolahan who sends an effort high and wide.

83rd - Forest break with Tyson down the left but his touch lets him down and allows Ward to clear the danger.

79th - Another great chance for City as Surman breaks into the Forest area and sends a powerful shot across the face of goal. Some how no-one is able to get the vital touch and tuck the ball home.

75th - A close shave for City as Earnshaw sends a cracking shot just inches over Ruddy's crossbar.

71st - A final change from Forest as Lewis McGugan replaces Forest skipper McKenna.

70th - Surman puts Holt though one-on-one with Camp but the City striker sends a powerful shot straight at Camp.

69th - Danger for City as Earnshaw shapes to shoot on the edge of the area but his weak shot is soon held by Ruddy.

65th Grant Holt breaks down the left and swings a cross to the far post for Chris Martin who under pressure heads over Camp's goal.

62nd - From a free-kick on the left Forest's Luke Chambers sends a looping header over the City goal.

61st - Another change for Forest as Guy Moussi comes on for Majewski.

56th -Cohen is the first player to enter referee Mathieson's notebook following a trip on Hoolahan.

54th - Billy Davies makes the first change of the afternoon with Nathan Tyson replacing Paul Anderson.

52nd - Forest win the first corner of the second half but a combination of Elliott Ward and Ruddy get the ball away.

51st - Cohen send a shot just wide of Ruddy's left-hand post.

48th - Grant Holt goes down just inside the Forest area after a battle with Morgan and despite City's penalty claims the referee gives the free-kick Forest's way.

46th - City win a free-kick on the right after Korey Smith was upended but Andrew Surman's ball into the box escapes the runners and goes out for a goal kick.

46th - City get the second half underway.

Half-time: Nottingham Forest 1 Norwich City 1

45+1 - The crowd has been confirmed as 21,890 with 2,532 Norwich fans at the City Ground this afternoon.

45th - The fourth official has confirmed there will be two minutes of added time.

43rd - Goal 1-1 City are level. Andrew Crofts stabbs the ball home after the Forest defence fail to clear a Surman free-kick.

41st - Adam Drury send a free-kick from the halfway line to the edge of the Forest area where Holt flicks the ball on but only into the hands of 'keeper Camp.

36th - Goal 1-0 to Forest. Blackstock sends his spot kick low past Ruddy and into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

35th - Penalty for Forest after Russell Martin trips Paul Anderson.

31st - The home team have a penalty appeal waved away after Dexter Blackstock went down under a tackle from Barnett.

30th - Play switches to the other end where Camp pulls off a good stop to deny Korey Smith who had been teed up by Surman.

29th - Forest captain Paul McKenna is tripped by Hoolahan but Radoslaw Majewski's chip into the box runs through to Ruddy.

22nd - City win a free-kick on the right which Surman floats into box looking for Grant Holt who goes up for the ball with 'keeper Camp but neither player are able to make a clear contact before the Forest defence get the ball to saftey.

17th - Chris Cohen blasts a shot high over the City crossbar.

14th - New boy Barnett makes a swift tackle to prevent Earnshaw on the edge of the area.

9th - Forest win a free-kick on the right after Adam Drury blocks Wilson but the ball into the the box is collected by Ruddy.

7th - The woodwork prevents Martin once again as this time the City striker sees a free-kick come back off the foot of the post.

6th - City almost opening the scoring as Chris Martin breaks away from Wes Morgan and from just inside the area cracks a shot against the corner of crossbar and post.

3rd - Forest win the first corner of the game as Russell Martin hacks Kelvin Wilson's cross away after John Ruddy had failed to collect. Wes Hoolahan clears the corner at the far post.

1st - Forest kick the game off. City are attacking the Trent End in the first half and will shoot towards their own supporters in the second half.

Team News:

CITY boss Paul Lambert has handed loan signing Leon Barnett his Norwich City debut in this afternoon's Championship match with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground (3pm).

Goalkeeper John Ruddy and defender Adam Drury return to the side defeated at Blackburn in the Carling Cup in midweek as do midf'ielders Korey Smith, Andrew Surman and Andrew Crofts. Chris Martin again partners Grant Holt in attack.

The hosts' line-up includes three former Canaries in striker Rob Earnshaw, left-back Ryan Bertrand and 'keeper Lee Camp.