NOTTS FOREST 1 (Blackstock 9), LEEDS 1 (Sam 37)
Forest: Camp, Gunter, Wilson, Morgan, Bertrand, Cohen, Anderson (McCleary 63), Majewski (Tyson 68), McKenna, Blackstock (Moussi 84), Earnshaw. Subs; Chambers, Adebola, Thornhill, Darlow.
Leeds: Schmeichel, Connolly, Naylor, Collins, Bessone, Howson, Kilkenny, Johnson, Watt, Becchio, Sam (Clayton 89). Subs: Higgs, Bruce, Grella, Hughes, Bromby, White.
Referee: T Bates
Booking: Bertrand, Wilson, Gunter (Forest), Kilkenny, Watt (Leeds).
Att: 24986 (4240 Leeds)
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United manager Simon Grayson had seen his side record their first win of the season, in midweek against Lincoln in the Carling Cup, and he made just one change to that side with skipper Richard Naylor returning in place of Alex Bruce at the heart of the defence.
And that defence was tested inside the opening two minutes when Paul Anderson got on the end of a right wing cross, forcing Kasper Schmeichel into making a terrific block to deny the Forest man.
The home side al;so felt they had early cl.aims for as penalty when Fede Bessone challenged an advancing Chris Gunter, but referee Tony Bates waved away their shouts and allowed play to continue.
Forest had suffered defeat in their two opening games of the season - at Burnley and Bradford in the Carling Cup - but they certainly started brightly against United and looked to force the early running.
And the opening goal came on nine minutes, following a throw-in on the right. Gunter delivered a cross into the middle, and Dexter Blackstock was able to place his header beyond Schmeichel into the far corner.
It could have been 2-0 four minutes later when Rob Earnshaw was set free on goal, but much to United's relief, his hurried finish rattled the upright.
United did mount a first serious attack on the 15-minute mark, but Lloyd Sam saw an effort blocked after some good passing play. Forest returned the ball swiftly, and Paul Connolly got in a decisive block after Earnshaw shaped to shoot.
The early onslaught did little to dampen the vocal support of the travelling fans, though, and over 4,200 United fans roared encouragement at the City Ground.
Grayson's men responded by coming into the game more and on 25 minutes, Luciano Becchio had the first Leeds goal attempt when he lifted an effort wide after Lee Camp failed to clear a cross.
The game had lost some its early impetus, but Forest still looked to move the ball quickly on the break and Bessone prevented one threat with a decisive block.
Then, on 37 minutes, Leeds levelled. Johnson supplied the cross from the left and Sam sent a header glancing past Camp to rock the City Ground and send 4,000 Leeds fans into ecstasy at the opposite end of the stadium.
It was United's first on-target effort of the afternoon and should have proved the perfect tonic for the final moments leading up to the half-time break. United almost got a second reward three minutes before the break when Camp dithered over a back-pass and Sanchez Watt almost capitalised before the home keeper cleared.
Leeds also started the second half on the attack after an error in the Forest midfield allowed Johnson to try his luck with an effort from distance. It was fair to say that despite Forest's dominance of the early stages, the match was very much in the balance at the start of the second period.
Neil Kilkenny saw a free-kick cleared to safety and from the resultant throw-in Watt almost carved out a second goal. The winger twisted and turned as he cut in from the left before unleashing a bullet of a ball into the box that somehow eluded everyone when the faintest connection could have proved decisive.
Becchio also felt he should have won a free-kick on the edge of the box when he went down under the weight of Wes Morgan following a long ball forward from Schmeichel.
The second half was proving a much more even contest than the opening 45 minutes and at the halfway stage, it was still there for the taking for either side.
Watt had a shot blocked after showing good skill on the edge of the box, and as the ball broke, Sam won a free-kick after being brought to ground by Ryan Bertrand. United also forced a corner from the set-play after Becchio was denied with a header and Leeds were starting to enjoy the best spell of the game. Another corner followed from Kilkenny, but Watt failed to direct his header on target and his effort fizzed just wide.
Bessone forced another corner moments later after Johnson had been awarded the freedom of the middle of the park, and on this occasion, Forest goalkeeper Camp gathered at the second attempt after failing to hold the initial delivery.
As the game headed into the final 10 minutes there was a melee in the Forest goalmouth involving a number of players from both sides, following what appeared to be a stamping incident involving Gunter that occured some way from where Leeds were about to take a throw-in. Both Watt and Gunter were booked.
United did have muted appeal for a penalty on 85 minutes when Johnson attempted to crash his way into the box, but referee Bates was unmoved.
Leeds were looking the most likely side to sneak the points and on 89 minutes, Sam had a shot blocked before Kilkenny sent the rebound skidding just wide of the upright.
That proved to be Sam's final taste of the action as Grayson introduced Adam Clayton with just 60 seconds of normal time left on the clock. That time was soon upped though with a staggering six minutes of added time.
Midway through the added period, Watt almost forced an opening when he delivered a cross, but Forest cleared their lines. The home side also looked to force a winner, but Leeds were looking solid and resolute.
But there was to be no decider and United were able to be content with picking up a first Championship point of the new season.
