91Èȱ¬

Brighton and Nottingham Forest remain outside the play-off places after a stalemate at the Amex Stadium.

Inigo Calderon saw an early shot come back off a post for the home side and Will Hoskins spurned several chances.

For Forest, Billy Sharp brushed the crossbar and Dexter Blackstock went close either side of half-time.

The second half saw fewer opportunities but Forest goalkeeper Lee Camp produced smart saves to deny substitute Kazenga LuaLua and Will Buckley late on.

Brighton, who have now gone three matches without a victory, made three changes and started well as Craig Mackail-Smith cut the ball back for Calderon, only for his left-footed shot to strike the woodwork.

As the Seagulls continued to have the better of proceedings, Hoskins shot wide from six yards and former England full-back Wayne Bridge fired into the side netting having been given space down the left.

Hoskins was off target again with a volley and a header from crosses going over.

Sharp clipped the bar from Cohen's centre and the visitors went close again soon after the interval as Blackstock poked substitute Greg Halford's cross narrowly wide.

Nine minutes from time LuaLua looked likely to make the breakthrough when he collected the ball on the left and cut inside before unleashing a powerful shot, but a diving Camp pushed the ball to safety.

Camp then kept out Buckley after he had burst through following a mistake by Halford.

Brighton manager Gus Poyet:

"The disappointment was there. I am getting bored at listening to myself.

"The first half was nearly perfect apart from scoring. It's up to us. If we do what we have to, we'll win games.

"Imagine if football was fair. But it's about how many goals you score. We've got a magnificent chance to be in the top six if we win.

"We don't want there to be any excuses or dramas - we just need to score and finish games. We need to stop making excuses and win games."

Forest assistant manager Rob Kelly:

"We'll take our point and move on. We didn't get a foothold in the first half and when the break came the message was to get higher up the pitch and closer to them.

"We had chances either side of half-time and in the second half we got on the front foot and did a lot better.

"Brighton had opportunities in the first half but we nearly scored ourselves and the second half was much more even.

"This is a tough league but we are building ourselves up to go anywhere and compete."