IPSWICH Town boss Roy Keane saw signs of encouragement, despite his side's continued failure to win a league game, this time against Nottingham Forest last night.

Carl Marston

Ipswich Town 1 Nottingham Forest 1

IPSWICH Town boss Roy Keane saw signs of encouragement, despite his side's continued failure to win a league game, this time against Nottingham Forest last night.

Town looked on course to record their first league win of the season, in seven attempts, when home debutant Grant Leadbitter volleyed them into an early lead after just 42 seconds.

It was the first time that Keane's men had scored the first goal in a Championship fixture this term, but they could not make it count.

And former Norwich City striker Robert Earnshaw made them pay in dramatic fashion. The Welshman had only been on the pitch for a matter of 10 seconds, as a substitute just before the hour mark, when he skipped past Alex Bruce to convert a quality equaliser.

And to make matters worse for Town, they had centre-half Gareth McAuley sent off for bringing down substitute Dele Adebola in stoppage time, just outside the penalty area.

"We're getting a little closer, I think. We're nearly there," insisted Keane.

"There are signs of encouragement, but we need to win a game to pick us up. I was generally happy enough with my players, and I won't be losing any sleep.

"If the game is only a minute long, then we'd have won! But it's 90 minutes, and whoever scored the second goal was always going to be important.

"Forest have strong attacking options on the bench, and their equaliser gave them momentum.

"The last five minutes summed it up. Gareth McAuley had a header cleared off the line at one end, and then decided to try and dribble past their big striker (Adebola) at the other!" added Keane.

Forest manager Billy Davies said: ""We looked poor in the first half.

We were one-paced, slow and sluggish, and we deserved to lose that early goal.

"But in my opinion there was only one winner in the second half, and we were a little unfortunate not to take all three points.

"We showed great character, especially after losing a goal after 40-odd seconds at a big club like Ipswich, who have a big squad. I have no doubt that Roy Keane and his staff will get it right here, so that's why I'm delighted with the result.

"This was a good draw for us, and we are now unbeaten in seven matches," added Davies.