Nottingham Forest and Reading marked their returns to the Championship with a 0-0 draw at the City Ground.

The two clubs encountered contrasting past seasons, with Forest securing promotion from League One and Reading being relegated from the Premier League.

But there was little on show to suggest two divisions separated the clubs last term as chances were at a premium.

New signing Rob Earnshaw had decent opportunities in each half for Forest, while Reading saw Marek Matejovsky stretchered off in the first period.

And late on Paul Smith produced a spectacular late save to deny Reading striker Kevin Doyle 10 minutes from time.

Afterwards Royals boss Steve Coppell said: "It was the one opening we had in the game and it just happened to be Paul who got in the way of it. I gave him a regular spot in the Brentford team when I was there.

"It was a great save but I won't tell you what I said to him afterwards.

"Outside of that we created a lot of potential situations but they all seemed to filter away into nothing."

Forest boss Colin Calderwood said: "We knew it would be tough against Reading but we are a Championship side now and we have to be judged on that.

"I'm quite satisfied with the way it panned out and I certainly wouldn't want to use our lack of strikers as an excuse. You have to cope with injuries even though I would like to bring someone in while we are getting people fit."