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After the disappointment of the performance against Coventry, Stan made changes to his starting line up and both Camara and Branch, back from suspension, made defensive starts at the expense of McGregor and Alan Moore, the former donning a tracksuit for this match.
With Luke Chadwick not even making the sixteen, youngsters Scott and Townsend were allowed to stay up late as the squad was once again down to its bare bones before a large and seemingly expectant crowd at the City ground.
Clarets were given a let off as early as the third minute when Taylor's guided header went the wrong side of the post as far as home fans were concerned, the impressive Reid the provider of one of few quality crosses in the game.
Premature celebrations were sniggered at in the visiting ranks as Taylor's offside header found the net five minutes later, but by now Clarets were finding their feet and beginning to settle into the game and from this point the half was a balanced affair, with the better of the chances then falling to the Clarets.
Wood's powerful and surging run saw the ball fall kindly for Ian Moore, but the striker rushed his shot when he had time to spare and his first time effort was sliced wide of the target, the glorious chance wasted.
Celebrations were though only delayed by a couple of minutes and once again Wood was instrumental in the action. It was his long range effort that deceived 'keeper Roche who could only parry the ball into the path of Chaplow and the youngster made no mistake from close range in silencing the home fans with his fifth goal of the season and Clarets first at the City ground from four visits over fourteen years.
Forest tried to rally, but the succession of deep crosses to Taylor were largely ineffective allowing the pairing of Branch and may to look solid and competent in their dealing with the aerial threat on offer.
You'll never creak Des Walker tweaked a hamstring in an attempted fifty yard run after the ball and the creaky one limped off to be replaced early on by Thompson, this after a disappointing Blake's neat shot on the turn was ably dealt with by a well positioned Roche.
Taylor headed straight at Jensen and May tidied up neatly when heading back to Jensen as the game entered a somewhat scrappy period during the second half of the half, with neither side able to create a real chance of any note.
Clarets defended manfully, with legs and bodies in the way as Forest threatened, but by and large what pressure was generated was kept to a line some ten yards outside the area, therefore Forest's crosses came from too deep and the shots were from distance to really threaten Jensen's goal, though the Beast needed to and did react well to a Taylor header on the half hour.
With Clarets looking to deny the home side space, particularly in the middle of the field, play was largely confined to long balls from both sides, though the quality in the latter stages of the half belonged to the Clarets. Once again a surging run from Wood ended in a blocked tackle on the edge of the Forest area, from which the ball fell kindly for Ian Moore only for the striker to hurry his shot over when once again well placed.
Clarets won another corner minutes from the break and Wood's curling low cross eluded everyone as it flashed across the six yard box, the home defence not for the first time looking rather indecisive and suspect whenever put under pressure.
A further counter attack saw Blake and Little combine well, the final ball again going to Ian Moore and though his shot was as close as he got to the goal on the night it was still one that failed to trouble the keeper, despite the time and space afforded to him by the lenient home defence. Blake saw a low drive into the side netting before the final action of the half saw a Fred West volley, whilst well struck was straight into the grateful gloves of keeper Roche atoning for his earlier gaff with competent keeping as Mr Olivier drew the half to a close. HT 0-1.
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Mr Olivier failed to get the benefit of the home fans with a series of decisions favouring the Clarets, not to the liking of the homesters who voiced their opinions of little Olivier's toiletry habits in a rather audible manner.
Clarets had a good chance to further their lead on the hour mark, when after a good combination between Little and Blake saw the bendy one put over a good low cross to the edge of the six yard area, but Moore was on the back foot and Dawson was able to scramble the ball away.
Down t'other end solid defending from Branch got the ball away before Taylor could connect as Clarets resoluteness forced Kinnear into a double substitution.
Louis-Jean and Barmby were replaced by Impey and David Johnson making his most significant return since recovering from a broken leg and appreciating the applause form all sections in the ground.
Clarets were seeing plenty of the ball but were not making the most of possession often granted to them by an at times wasteful home side. The result was that Clarets began to be pushed back into a defensive unit and a needless run from goal by Jensen almost saw a cheap equaliser conceded, but again he could be thankful to Branch covering as last man getting the ball away when crossed into the vacated six yard box.
Taylor headed wide when a goal looked a certainty twenty minutes from time, the bout of pressure bringing the home crowd to life and after a church like atmosphere, the City ground began to look and sound like a football stadium over the final stages of the game.
Moore was fouled in mid-air by Dawson, rightly booked and the only caution in the game before Weller replaced an exhausted Wood with a quarter of an hour to play. Grant jarred a knee a minute later and crucially needed enforced replacement by McGregor, coming on to shore up a now makeshift midfield.
Clarets wasted a free kick from a good position as once again Blake shot meekly at Roche who was comfortably able to save from the underperforming ex-Forest player.
Clarets were undone ten minutes from time, when Taylor was allowed far too much space in the area finished with his foot, yes his foot, enabling Forest to claim a point when firing powerfully past an exposed Jensen.
Briefly, Clarets looked at sea, gaps appeared that had previously not existed and the expectant homesters were prematurely celebrating a minute later, when Johnson's shot, though finding the net, had long since been flagged permitting a bit of healthy banter between the two sets of fans across the divide.
Five minutes from time and Johnson's good header hit the face of the bar as the home side looked to take the points, then Johnson saw an angled drive safely into the arms of Jensen. But the final minutes belonged to Clarets and Little had a hand in two glorious chances to nick it for the Clarets.
A superb dribble into the area cut Forest open in the final minute of the ninety and his tantalising cross was glanced goal wards by Chaplow, but the glance went just past the far post with home fans checking their watches.
Then in the three minutes of injury time, Little having left his marker on his backside, saw his goal bound shot deflected out for a corner, when with a little more nouse he could and maybe should have sealed a valuable victory.
As far as action goes that was that and whilst both sets of fans reflected on whether or not they "deserved" their win, thoughts immediately transferred to forthcoming key games and the need to gain points of others in the increasing numbers involved in the fight to avoid that unwanted third spot.
Att:- 26,885.
Star Gazer
I'm sorry but if Robbie Blake thinks his performance was good enough, then he needs to think again. Whilst all around his team mates gave their all, his was a meek performance of and low work rate and underachievement carrying little threat to Forest. There have been many shining performances from the little man of late, sadly this was not amongst them.
Beer Money
So near and yet so far. Clarets have now not won in six and maybe, just maybe, a team with a little more confidence could have held out that little bit longer and relieved so many of the pressures due over the coming games and final weeks in this season. Then again, Clarets fans were never intended to have finger nails.
Star Geezer
Graham Branch. Talk before the game was of disbelief as Stan's team selection circulated. Branch v Taylor seemed an unfair contest, but as the game progressed the oft maligned defender cum striker cum winger gained in both strength and confidence, keeping Forest's main threat largely at bay.
Champagne Tastes
Clarets dug in when they needed to and played some attractive football when going forwards. With more of a cutting edge, surely more points would be forthcoming, but in a needs must situation as is, the commitment shown by the players and their desire not to fail at a ground where history does not serve Clarets well largely could not be faulted nor should be ignored.