John Ward named the same starting eleven for the eighth game in a row for the visit of Nottingham Forest with Danny Graham shaking off his worrying hip injury well before kick off.

Colin Calderwood, knowing that he needed points for his own promotion push, went with an uncharacteristic forward line up of 3 out-and-out strikers as he sent his side in search of revenge for the City Ground defeat at the beginning of March.

A lively crowd had to endure a stuttering start to the game as Luke Chambers hit the floor, following a clash of heads from the kick off, but Cleveland Taylor was in to his stride quickly with a run down the right that brought an excellent cross. Paul Smith hesitated, but Graham had too much to do and the ball was cleared.

At the other end, a Cohen corner dropped nicely for Morgan, but he missed his header when he looked to be in a good position. McGugan was waiting, but he couldn't keep his shot down as he rasped it over the bar.

United used the route down the left wing to good effect in the 9th minute when Hackney and Horwood combined to leave the Reds flat-footed. A near post delivery found Danny Graham, who had managed to get in front of his marker, but Morgan did enough to deflect it behind for a corner.

Cohen had a weak effort that was easy for Westwood in the 14th minute, when he linked with Clingan through the middle of the park, and the move brought Greg Abbott in to the technical area as he urged the team to do more when they had possession.

Chris Lumsdon was the catalyst behind a swift attack in the 18th minute when he spotted Horwood sprinting away on the left hand side. His cross was a teaser, but Bennett was tracking back and got there ahead of Taylor, who was waiting for the opportunity to stab it home.

Horwood was then caught in two minds in his own half on 20 minutes and he found himself in trouble as he gave possession away. Cohen ghosted in to the box in the hope that a delivery would follow, but he did nothing with it when it eventually came.

The ball became a bit of a hot potato as the passage of play moved to the middle of the pitch, and chances were few and far between as no quarter was given.  Play came to a complete halt in the 30th minute when Referee Mark Halsey waved his Fourth Official in to action as he complained of either an illness or an injury.

The switch was made, and Forest were first to show after the mini-break when Agogo pounced on a Murphy tackle and found himself with a shooting opportunity. He put his boot through it, but it was always angling away from the target and flew well past the post in the end.

Graham was left wondering what he had done wrong when United piled forward in the 37th minute, when Lumsdon sent a ball over the top for him to chase. He pushed Morgan out of the way and, with just Paul Smith to beat, he misjudged his left foot shot and screwed it wide of the upright.

Bridge-Wilkinson then took the ball off Morgan as Forest tried to play their way out of defence, and his quick pass to Hackney invited him to shoot. He got plenty on it, but it was rising from the moment he struck it and it whipped over the bar.

Tyson finally got in to the game in the 44th minute when he ran clear down the wing before delivering a good, low cross. Horwood had to stretch to clear it, and he did well to prevent the ball from sitting up in front of the approaching Brett Ormerod and Junior Agogo.

The half ended with some great attacking football and United almost got themselves in front when Lumsdon, Grant Smith and Taylor patiently played their way in to a dangerous position. Hackney supplied a decent ball in, and Danny Graham saw his volley blocked by the legs of Paul Smith as he spread himself on the floor.

Half Time: United 0 - 0 Forest

Forest were forced in to a substitution during the break as Tyson reported an injury, with on-loan Bromley winger Garath McLeary taking his place on the field.

The new arrival created the first chance of the half when he sent a ball across the face of the 18-yard box. McGugan connected crisply, but Westwood watched it all the way as it curled beyond his post.

Cleveland Taylor did well in the 49th minute when Murphy slashed a first time volley in to the area, looking for a blue shirt to add the finishing touch. The winger got there, but Breckin blocked as Paul Smith looked beaten all ends up.

Danny Graham then took Smith by surprise in the 56th minute when he spun on the ball, 32-yards from goal, and thumped it goalwards. The Reds stopper launched himself at it and showed a strong wrist as he parried the ball away.

Things became bogged down in midfield again as the hard working sides cancelled each other out, with neither keeper having much to do other than gather crosses and marshall their back line.

Forest stunned the Carlisle home crowd in the 76th minute, though, when a powerful free kick was allowed to fly in to the box, towards Luke Chambers. The defence were on their heels, and the right back was able to rise and bullet his header in to the roof of the net with Westwood totally stranded.

Graham put a header right at Smith in the 79th minute, when Taylor popped a far post cross over from the right hand side, with the Reds defence caught in two minds as to whether to clear it or not.

Agogo robbed the ball off Murphy as the game started to flow again, and he looked odds on to score as he set his sights and unleashed a shot. Westwood had moved in to position, and he plucked it out of the air with Agogo cursing the fact that he'd rushed his effort.

The width of the woodwork prevented Danny Livesey from scoring an 87th minute equaliser when he flicked a Bridge-Wilkinson free kick past the stranded Paul Smith. It smashed back off the bar, and a gaggle of bodies converged as it looped up and over the target.

The post came in to play again in the 89th minute when Bridge-Wilkinson sent yet another free kick in to the box, but Smith dragged it behind for a corner as Horwood chased it down.

United had thrown everything forward following the goal, but Forest wrapped things up with a late, late strike as they broke forward, catching United light at the back. Westwood did well to save the initial effort, but McCleary was there to stab it home and ease the pressure on his delighted Boss.

Goals

Forest - Chambers (76), McCleary (90+3)

Bookings

United - Lumsdon (74)

Forest - Clingan (88)

Teams

United - Westwood, Raven, Livesey, Murphy, Horwood, Taylor (Madine 85), Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, G Smith (Carlton 78), Hackney, Graham. Subs - Howarth, Aranalde, Arnison.

Forest - P Smith, Wilson, Chambers, Morgan (Breckin 48), Tyson (McCleary 46), Cohen, Clingan, McGugan, Ormerod, Agogo (Sinclair 85), Bennett. Subs - Thornhill, Byrne.

Away fans - 602