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Nottingham Forest lost their place at the top of the Championship as Brighton earned a deserved point in an entertaining game of few chances.

The hosts began encouragingly but struggled against a resolute Seagulls side, who defended superbly.

Forest's Michael Mancienne came closest to scoring in second-half injury time when his downward header went over.

At the other end, Craig Mackail-Smith was unlucky not to score with a glancing header before the break.

But neither side were able to create much in the way of clear openings and Norwich's 3-1 victory over Blackpool means Forest slip down to second in the table - a point behind the leaders - following a second successive scoreless draw.

Brighton also played out a second 0-0 draw in a row but will take more from the score than the hosts, who failed to find their fluent best on a frustrating afternoon.

They had the better of the first half, with Henri Lansbury heading a good chance wide from a Danny Cox cross and top-scorer Britt Assombalonga firing wide after a defensive lapse.

Robert Tesche also went close with three decent chances, the third of which produced a fine save from Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale.

Adrian Colunga shot straight at Reds keeper Karl Darlow for Brighton, while Mackail-Smith went close with chances either side of the interval.

But although Mackail-Smith then also saw a deflected shot go wide, Forest, who remain unbeaten in the league, had the better of things in the second period.

Substitute Lars Veldwijk hit the side netting when well placed and Mancienne, who almost put through his own net early in the second half, should have won it in stoppage time.

But the defender powered a free header from Ben Osborn's corner into the turf and over the bar from six yards.

Nottingham Forest manager Stuart Pearce: "The players know that the performance levels need to be improved on massively.

"We did not do enough going forward to hurt the opposition and we have to learn that lesson. Brighton had a passing game and kept possession well - for far too long, in my opinion."

Brighton manager Sami Hyypia: "I am very happy with the clean sheet, but if you want to win games, you have to score goals and today, we could not create enough.

"The players are still understanding what we want from them. We need to work with them and hopefully it will soon be working better than it was."