IPSWICH Town produced a dominant second-half performance but were unable to grab the winner they richly deserved in their 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest.

The Blues carved out numerous opportunities but were unable to make any count as the visitors escaped with a share of the spoils.

Jon Nolan missed a sitter and had a goal controversially ruled out while substitute Kayden Jackson was twice denied by keeper Costel Pantilimon.

It was Town’s sixth 1-1 draw in seven matches – a remarkable run that would have been seven out of seven, had it not been for Reading’s late winner in the previous match at Portman Road.

The Blues remain bottom of the table but gave their fans more cause for optimism after an encouraging, entertaining and forward-thinking second half.

That said, Paul Lambert’s men were slightly fortunate to be on level terms after a first half that promised much, only to peter out and become a tepid affair.

There were just five minutes on the clock when the Blues broke down the right, after incisive touches from Teddy Bishop and James Bree.

The latter fed Gwion Edwards, who burst forward and delivered a low cross that should have been cut out by a defender.

Instead, it reached Collin Quaner and the striker, back in the starting line-up at the expense of Jackson, converted from close range, turning the ball through Pantilimon’s legs.

Town should have gone for the jugular and pressed home their advantage.

Instead, Forest responded positively and would have been level midway through the half had it not been for an excellent block by Matthew Pennington to deny Jack Colback.

However, ten minutes later it was 1-1.

Joe Lolley whipped in a corner from the right and after a scramble at the near post, Molla Wague stabbed home from close range, possibly with the aid of a deflection off Nolan.

Former Town hero Daryl Murphy headed onto the roof of the net from Lolley’s free-kick and then Town had a let-off in stoppage time when the Irishman netted from an angle after a great save from Bartosz Bialkowski.

However, the strike was ruled out for offside.

Ipswich were in the ascendancy early in the second period and Trevoh Chalobah, a first-half substitute for the injured Cole Skuse, sent a thunderous volley just wide of the left-hand post from 25 yards.

Then Nolan was guilty of missing a sitter, after connecting with a precision right-wing cross from Alan Judge.

However, with the goal at his mercy, from the edge of the six-yard box, he inexplicably missed the target.

Town, like Murphy just before the break, were desperately unlucky to have a goal ruled out when Judge’s low free-kick from deep on the left was smashed into the net via the underside of the bar by Nolan.

However, referee Keith Stroud blew his whistle for reasons that were far from clear.

There was one last scare at the other end as Bialkowski made an excellent double save – first from substitute Matty Cash and then from Murphy’s follow-up.

But Town continued to press for a winner and Jackson’s angled effort was kept out by Pantilimon, after being played in by Chalobah.

The Forest keeper then denied the same player with a similar effort from the right as Town were left to reflect on missed opportunities and another 1-1 draw.