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Forest fail to chop down Royals
Earnshaw: Pulls the trigger
Despite controlling most of the game Forest, new arrivals from League One, had keeper Paul Smith to thank as he parried Kevin Doyle's header onto the bar as Reading threatened to grab the points late on.
It would have been harsh on Forest, who created a number of chances but their finishing was wasteful.
Forest were missing new recruits Andrew Cole, Paul Anderson and Joe Garner, along with former Royals forward Nathan Tyson, so Rob Earnshaw made his debut as a loan striker.
But the Wales international was far from disheartened as he buzzed around in an attempt to disrupt Reading's big centre-halves.
And midway through the second half Earnshaw found himself 30 yards out with the ball at his feet, but his long-range effort slid wide of Marcus Hahnemann's left post.
The Royals were also depleted for their first Championship fixture for three seasons and were without captain Graeme Murty, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Sam Sodje and Michael Duberry.
The naturally left-footed Jimmy Kebe, making his second start for Reading since his move from Lens in January, was causing Forest problems and his raiding run in from the right was halted by a Wes Morgan challenge that could have earned a penalty but referee Stuart Attwell was unmoved.
Guy Moussi, signed in the summer from French side SCO Angers, was also making a big impression in the centre of midfield and his shot from distance had to be smartly fielded by Hahnemann in the Reading goal.
But neither keeper was stretched beyond their limits in the opening 45 minutes.
The first half ended on a ominous note for Reading with Czech international midfielder Marek Matejovsky being stretchered off with an ankle injury to be replaced by Kalifa Cisse.
The home side were struggling to break down Reading's defence, which featured Stephen Hunt at left-back after the departure of Nicky Shorey to Aston Villa in the week.
And it was Hunt in a more familiar attacking role that created a chance for Cisse but he dragged his shot wide as both sides continued to find their range.
A flurry of crosses from Forest's right caused problems in Reading's defence but centre-backs Ibrahima Sonko and Ivar Ingimarsson remained dominant in the face of Forest's short strikeforce.
As Forest searched for the winner, Smith was forced to pull off a fine reaction save from Doyle's header after further good work from Hunt on the left.
Earnshaw created a late chance but his shooting failed to mach his build-up play and Hahnemann gathered easily.
