Connolly's late show saves Leicester

Nottingham Forest 1 Leicester City 1

Nottingham Forest performed as if the shock of Joe Kinnear's resignation as manager had not really sunk in as they and Leicester shared an East Midlands derby curiously lacking in passion but in which the spoils were ultimately shared.

Nottingham Forest performed as if the shock of Joe Kinnear's resignation as manager had not really sunk in as they and Leicester shared an East Midlands derby curiously lacking in passion but in which the spoils were ultimately shared.

Forest went ahead through the centre-half Michael Dawson 12 minutes into the second half but were denied victory by David Connolly in the second minute of stoppage time. Dion Dublin's efforts to reach a Joey Gudjonsson cross at the far post were rewarded by Connolly's arrival in the six-yard box to score.

After defeat at home to Reading last weekend, Leicester's strength had been boosted by the return of a heavyweight quartet in Danny Tiatto, Martin Keown, Chris Makin and Connolly, all of whom had been injured or sick.

Forest's line-up bore no evidence of Kinnear's departure, but then again neither did the match programme, having gone to press before the manager made his announcement on Thursday. Kinnear's assurance, in his notes, that he would be "doing everything I can to provide you with a Happy Christmas" was an interesting line.

Whoever succeeds him - and last night his erstwhile assistant, Mick Harford, threw his hat in the ring - will inherit an unenviable task of ensuring financial survival as well as keeping Forest in the Championship.

Unusually for a manager who falls on his sword, Kinnear's last two home games were wins. But the heavy defeat at Derby last weekend had a deep impact on supporters.

Leicester did not look substantially better, although they should have been in front at half-time, Keith Gillespie having seen a shot blocked by Gregor Robertson inside the first minute when he should have scored.

Early in the second half Forest scored the goal that gave the them such a lift and brought complaints from the visitors.

When Alan Rogers propelled an Andy Reid corner into the penalty area with his chest there were immediate appeals for handball. The referee, Ian Williamson, saw nothing amiss, however, and as Leicester defenders hesitated, Dawson swivelled and scored. Ultimately, though, it was Leicester who had the last word.

Nottingham Forest (4-4-2): Gerrard; Thompson, Dawson, Morgan, Robertson; Impey, Nowland (Bopp, 90), Reid, Rogers; King, Johnson (Taylor, 66; Hjelde, 90). Substitutes not used: Doyle (gk), Commons.

Leicester City (4-4-2); S Taylor; Makin, Keown, Dublin, Stewart (Morris, 73); Gillespie, Gudjonsson, Nalis (Williams, 83), Tiatto (Blake, 83); Connolly, Scowcroft. Substitutes not used: Dabizas, Gemmill.

Referee: I Williamson (Berkshire).