Two well-matched teams had chances to take all three points but a draw, in front of 30,000, was a fair outcome and moves the Reds a point closer to the play-off places.
With Brentford losing to Cardiff, Forest are now eight points off a top-six spot with a home game to come this midweek against struggling Rotherham United.
Both managers felt a draw was the right result although they disagreed on who came closest to breaking the deadlock.
"We were the better team, I think we had the better chances," said Dougie Freedman while opposite number Neil Redfearn commented: "I thought we had the best chance with Charlie Taylor, who should have scored."