Nottingham Forest have been held to a goalless first half at the City Ground against Barnsley.

Forest started the game the stronger of the two sides and nearly went ahead inside five minutes when Billy Sharp's shot deflected just wide after good work by Elliott Ward and Radoslaw Majewski.

Four minutes later, Simon Cox nearly put the hosts in front, but his low drive took a slight deflection that guided it the wrong side of the post.

Forest rattled the goal frame in the 28th minute, as Henri Lansbury's header clip the bar on its way over from a Majewski corner.

Barnsley keeper Luke Steele was forced into action twice in the space of a minute towards the end of the half, first pushing away Sharp's header before keeping out Adlene Guedioura's long-range drive.