25/03/2008 - Forest 0 Brighton 0
Following an afternoon when a beleaguered Colin Calderwood was left to face some tough questions, the most important one of all still remains critically unanswered.
Can Nottingham Forest still win automatic promotion?
On the evidence of this 90 minutes, then they still have a chance, following a match in which resolute Brighton, inspired by the form of keeper Michel Kuipers, held out steadfastly against everything the Reds could throw at them.
Unfortunately for Forest, and Calderwood, promotions are not won or lost in the space of 90 minutes, but over the course of a whole season.
And, while it may still be mathematically possible, few people will any longer share the stoic optimism of Calderwood when it comes to their prospects of finishing in the top two.
Because, if Forest are to do that, not only must they rely on two teams, Carlisle and Doncaster, slipping up, but they must also do something they have not managed throughout the course of the campaign.
And that is to string together a run of consecutive victories, to win most, if not all, of their remaining eight games.
That sounds a tall order in itself, particularly for a team that has only managed to win three consecutive matches once previously this season.
And that looming 11-point gap, between them and Carlisle, may prove to be a bridge too far, despite the fact that Forest face both them and Doncaster over the next seven days.
For Calderwood there could be more at stake personally, given that a second consecutive failure to lead Forest to promotion would leave a lingering cloud of doubt hovering over his own future at the City Ground.
Calderwood found himself facing some difficult questions about his own future in a post-match inquisition, following what was an impressive performance but inadequate result.
On that point, he insisted he had not given his job security any thought, preferring to focus on the next challenge - the trip to face Doncaster on Friday.
And, of course, while their automatic promotion hopes may be hanging precariously in the balance, that does not mean their Championship dreams have died altogether.
Calderwood felt the level of performance yesterday could be enough to steer them to second place.
While some may view that as optimistic, what is certain is that the same quality of football between now and the end of the season would almost certainly stand them in good stead when it comes not only to securing a place in the play-offs, but to flourishing in the end-of-season showpiece.
Forest have a point to prove after failing in such spectacular fashion against Yeovil last season.
But, while they may have failed to breach a determined Brighton rearguard amid an entertaining stalemate, that was more to do with the quality of keeper Kuipers as with any shortcomings in their own ranks.
Kuipers kept Brighton in the match with a string of breathtaking stops.
It was Forest who had been the first to survive a scare, however, as a wayward pass from Kelvin Wilson left the home defence outnumbered.
Paul Smith saved the defender's blushes with a smart stop to thwart the advancing Steve Thomson, but Brighton should still have scored as the ball bounced loose to the experienced Nicky Forster, who somehow contrived to fire wide of the open goal.
But it was Dutchman Kuipers who was more regularly called into action - and who produced save after save.
Nathan Tyson came close with a flicked header from a Julian Bennett cross, with the ball looping dangerously towards the far post, where Matt Thornhill clattered the foot of the post with an instant shot.
A quick Kris Commons free-kick gave the rising Luke Chambers the chance to plant a firm header goalwards from the edge of the six-yard box, only for Kuipers to stretch out an arm and palm away.
Commons, who was Forest's most dangerous influence, was left with his head in his hands after seeing Kuipers pull off another stop from the top drawer, this time to acrobatically finger-tip a clever, dipping chip over his bar.
Smith was not redundant at the other end, however, and it required another adept save to keep the score level at the interval, as he demonstrated lightning reactions to nudge a powerful header from Tommy Elphick onto the bar.
Forest spurned a golden opportunity straight after the interval as a Bennett cross came through a melee of players to Thornhill at the far post, only for the youngster to sky the ball over the bar.
Kuipers was at his best again when Wes Morgan glanced a header towards the far post, stretching to palm away, and the keeper also got his body behind a driven effort from Ormerod.
Thornhill did better with a second opportunity, getting his weight behind a rasping low shot from just inside the box - but still Kuipers would not be beaten, parrying the shot low to his left.
And, when the keeper was finally defeated, in the 85th minute, still Forest were denied as a curling shot from substitute Lewis McGugan bounced away off the inside of the post, with the midfielder's celebrations cut short as the ball rolled across the face of goal and away.
It was a fitting moment to sum up an afternoon of frustration for Forest - a case of so near, yet so far.
Ultimately, their automatic promotion push may yet be viewed in the same way.
That goal is starting to look beyond them, but Forest may be finding form at the right time to flourish in the play-offs.