Nottingham Forest were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw against Reading on Wednesday night, with Sam Baldock striking late to salvage a late point at the City Ground.

These were two sides that were somewhat familiar to each other, having only faced at the Madejski Stadium 11 days ago. Forest took the lead in the 96th minute through Ben Watson, but less than a minute later, Forest had thrown the lead away after a Tobias Figueiredo own-goal.

Sabri Lamouchi's side would have been eager to get revenge on Wednesday night, then, knowing that a win could see them potentially move up to third in the Championship table, only two points off Leeds United in second place.

Before the game, Lamouchi admitted that the Reading side that would travel to the City Ground on Wednesday would be different from the one they met 11 days ago, in that they would be a danger on the counter.

The Frenchman looked to be correct in the opening five minutes of the encounter, as the Royals registered the game's first shot on target. After firing well over the bar after three minutes, John Swift found the palms of Brice Samba inside the area with a tame, curled effort.

Joe Lolley was the star of the show as Forest defeated a struggling Luton side 3-1 on Sunday afternoon, with both of the winger's goals coming after he cut in from the right onto his powerful left foot.

The 27-year-old threatened to do the same as Forest had their first shot on target of the evening on 18 minutes - Matty Cash finding his teammate on the underlap, before unleashing a low shot which was tipped behind by Rafael Cabral at the near post.

A minute later, Lolley's left foot threatened to cause some real danger once again. A free-kick was whipped in from the right, darted past everyone and was inches wide of the post.

It didn't take long for referee, David Webb, to brandish his first card of the evening. Pele - making his first appearance at the City Ground since spending last season on loan with the Reds - shown a yellow card for hacking down Ben Watson, as Forest continued to threaten.

The game started to quiet down towards the half-hour mark, after Tiago Silva had tried the spectacular for Forest. A Joe Lolley free-kick hit the wall and ricocheted straight back to Silva, who hit an audacious left-footed half-volley which sailed just over the crossbar.

Reading did show glimpses of their quality on the break, though. A well-worked move found Jordan Obita breaking down the left, but even though the winger's shot across goal didn't lack in power, it was placed a yard or so wide of the far post.

David Webb blew his whistle to mark the end of what had been a rather drab half, although the visitors did present Forest with a warning right before the whistle.

Despite the hosts' large spells of possession, an Ovie Ejaria unlocked the door for Reading - the attacking midfielder driving forward with pace, playing the ball forward for Swift, who cut the ball back for Jordan Obita.

The left-sided winger shooting with real power once again, but this time his shot was on target, and this time Brice Samba had to be there to make a fine save.

Plenty to think about for both managers at the half-time interval then, as Forest looked to break down a well-drilled, organised Reading unit.

The second-half began as the first-half ended - Forest having plenty of possession, but that final pass just lacking.

In fact, it was Reading who came closest in the early stages of the half. The majority of the City Ground were left furious as Jordan Obita seemingly broke Forest's offside trap, after a long ball by Michael Olise was hoisted over the top of the defence.

Despite their complaints, Forest's defence recovered well, snuffing out the danger as Obita could only muster another shot straight at Samba, who parried calmly.

In an attempt to get his side ticking in the final third, Lamouchi made his first change of the night on the hour mark, with Joao Carvalho coming on for Samba Sow.

John Swift and Ovie Ejaria continued to keep the Reading midfield ticking over, though, with the former being hacked down in the 62nd minute, resulting in a yellow card for Yuri Ribeiro.

Then, a minor penalty appeal for Forest on 68 minutes. Lewis Grabban looked to turn his man, Tyler Blackett, inside the box, and the 15-goal forward went down under pressure from the latter.

No penalty was given, though, as Sabri Lamouchi and his assistant vented their frustrations out to the fourth official.

Grabban would have a chance to get revenge five minutes later, but despite evading the challenge of Michael Morrison and finding space on the edge of the area, his shot was curled well wide.

Reading then made their first change of the night, with Sam Baldock replacing the George Puscas, who had become isolated up top against Michael Dawson and Joe Worrall.

It was hardly a classic encounter at the City Ground thus far, but as these two sides proved 11 days ago, goals can come at the most unlikely of times, as Forest continued to push.

That goal came with 10 minutes left to play.

After being played in down the left-hand side by Ribeiro, Sammy Ameobi latched onto a through ball and the pair played a quick one-two. Ameobi’s first-time shot was wayward at first, but there was the clinical Lewis Grabban at the back post to slide in and score his 16th goal of the campaign.

The right place at the right time for Grabban once again, who scored his third goal in a matter of days, but Forest were a team that knew all too well about Reading's ability to bounce back with a sucker-punch.

For the second time in less than two weeks, they silenced Forest fans once again.

Baldock, only 10 minutes after coming on from off the bench, shiellded the ball in the box away from Michael Dawson with his back to goal, feinted to his fight and unleashed a ferocious, low shot.

Samba met it with a strong glove, but the power of the shot was too much for the Congolese shot-stopper. The ball trickled over the line, and despite Worrall’s attempted clearance hitting the underside of the crossbar, the goal was given, stunning the City Ground faithful.

Unlike their meeting on the 11th, Forest had time to recover from this major blow. Lolley immediately looked to put Forest back  on level terms, but his shot drew a force save out of Rafael Cabral once again.

But Baldock's goal had silenced the Forest faithful, and after three minutes were added on at the end of the game, the whistle was blown, as Forest failed to threaten in the latter stages of the encounter.

For the second time in less than two weeks, the Royals showed their resilient side to come from behind and earn a late point against the Reds.

A wasted opportunity for Forest in some ways, but not all is lost for Lamouchi's men - the Reds sit four points off second place, five points off top spot, and have climbed to fourth in the league standings.

With games against West Brom, Brentford and Leeds fast approaching, though, Lamouchi may well live to rue his side's late defensive frailties.