Derby County's stuttering form continues in goalless draw with rivals Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest 0 Derby County 0: The Rams, who ended the game with 10 men after Tom Huddlestone's late dismissal, squandered four excellent opportunities in front of goal

Kasey Palmer's shot on goal is saved by Costel Pantilimon (Getty)

Derby County’s stuttering form continued as they wasted numerous chances only to be held by arch rivals Nottingham Forest.

The Rams created four excellent opportunities only to run into an in-form goalkeeper in Forest’s Costel Pantilimon, while they ended the game with 10 men after midfielder Tom Huddlestone was sent off late on.

The goalless draw meant fifth-placed Derby have gone seven games without a win and are 11 points off automatic promotion with nine matches left, while Forest extended their unbeaten run to six matches.

The first 44 minutes was devoid of goalmouth action with defences on top and plenty of stoppages as the tackles flew in – but Derby were denied three times in a matter of seconds just before half-time.

Virtually the only noteworthy action up until that point was when Forest fans taunted Gary Rowett, the Derby manager, with the chant ‘Gary Rowett, your trainers are s***’ to which he performed an exaggerated yawn.

Gary Rowett was teased for his footwear selection (Getty)

There was a hint of a half chance when Andreas Weimann’s angled shot on the turn from just inside the box was charged down by Danny Fox, the Forest centre back.

The first flashpoint came in the 18th minute when Tendayi Darikwa and Bradley Johnson angrily squared up and pressed their heads together after a full-blooded tackle when Ikechi Anya went flying after a firm but fair sliding challenge from Fox.

Tom Lawrence was the first to be booked when he was harshly judged to have dived after it looked as if he had been tripped by Ben Watson in the 28th minute.

Fox was perfectly placed again when he stuck out a leg to block Weimann’s angled drive on the run after a sweeping pass from Tom Huddlestone.

Forest midfielder Jack Colback was next to have his name taken after he was judged to have tripped Curtis Davies near the touchline on 32.

Kasey Palmer reacts after squandering an opportunity in front of goal (Getty)

Tomlin had the game’s first real shot when his 25-yard drive whistled just past Scott Carson’s right-hand post a minute before the break.

Derby should have been ahead just before half-time though only to be denied three times by Costel Pantilimon, the Forest goalkeeper.

David Nugent’s shot was blocked by the Romanian from Weimann’s cut back then he got in the way of Lawrence’s thunderous follow-up on the line, before he fumbled Lawrence’s inswinging corner off the line.

Forest made the better start to the second half and a return pass from Ben Brereton was fractionally over hit for Matty Cash, who started the move.

Tom Huddleston is dismissed for a second yellow card (Getty)

Derby responded with a looping header from Curtis Davies that drifted well over following a corner, while a similar effort from Watson via Ben Osborn’s cross went the same way.

Derby made a double substitution in the 66th minute when they brought on Kasey Palmer and Cameron Jerome for Ikechi Anya and Nugent – and it almost paid a quick dividend.

Palmer wriggled through on the left but with only Pantilimon to beat, he poked it straight at the keeper, who saved it with his legs.

Huddlestone was sent off after two bookings in quick succession, the second of which was for a foul on Tomlin in the 82nd minute.