The strategy was flawed for it gave City the chance to stoke up confidence. With 12 minutes left Alex Russell fired the equaliser and at the end two goal-line clearances came between City and their the first win over Forest in 20 meetings.
Bristol had problems before the start when three of the team, David Noble, Mark McGammon and Scott Brown were ruled out with flu like symptoms. That was partially bounced out when Nicky Southall, Forest's hat-trick hero in the 7-1 blasting of Swindon the week before limped out after only 11 minutes.
Forest were forced into another midfield change during the break when Kris Commons, picked up an injury and was unable to appear for the second half.
Southall was injured in the challenge on Brazilian keeper Adriano Basso. He was replaced by Sammy Clingan but Forest had less luck with Commons replacement Felix Bastians who was himself subbed late on.
City were indebted early on to defenders Liam Fontaine and Craig Woodman for stopping marauding striker Nathan Tyson. Forest relied too much on Tyson's pace often failing to provide him with a proper backup. But they should have gone in front midway through the first half when Perch hit the bar. On its way down the ball bounced off Basso but he recovered to make a brave smothering save at Tyson's feet.
Slower into their stride City were guilty of passing up two clear chances. There was a head-holding miss from six yards by Scott Murray and then a header well off target by David Cotterill who had run into a good position to meet a cross.