NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1 (McGoldrick 30)
STOKE CITY 1 (Kitson 48)

City's preparations for the upcoming 2009/10 Barclays Premier League campaign continued at the City Ground on Wednesday evening where Dave Kitson's second half strike ensured a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest.

The Championship promotion hopefuls proved a stern test for the Potters, and it was in fact the hosts who took the lead shortly before the half time interval through former Wycombe man Nathan Tyson. Their lead lasted barely ten minutes though as Kitson fired home just two minutes in to the second period.

Manager Tony Pulis had only 15 players at his disposal after half of the squad took part in the 2-0 defeat against Blue Square Conference South side Newport County. However, despite the lack of strength in depth it proved to be a very worthwhile encounter as the majority of the squad completed their first full 90 minutes.

The absence of Abdoulaye Faye and Ryan Shawcross with injuries meant Pulis handed starts to the impressive Academy graduate Ryan Shotton and Leon Cort in the heart of defence, whilst £5,000,000 summer signing Dean Whitehead made his second start alongside Republic of Ireland star Glenn Whelan.

Ricardo Fuller's return from an extended pre-season break didn't warrant an immediate start, and he was instead confined to the bench with James Beattie continuing alongside Kitson up front. Billy Davies' side, who have been the most active club during the summer transfer window, handed debuts to several of their new signings including Chris Gunter, Dexter Blackstock and new skipper Paul McKenna.

Whelan was first to test the waters of the hosts with a stinging effort from 25-yards after he cleverly teed himself up after beating giant defender Wes Morgan. The Republic of Ireland international then again went close moments later with a curling effort which flew just wide.

Forest soon got into the swing of things though and went close through Tyson, who made up for his miss just after the half hour mark with a clinically taken header after Joel Lynch brilliantly picked him out inside the 6-yard box.

The Potters immediately pressed for an equaliser though and almost levelled when Whitehead fired goalwards from 9-yards. However, Lee Camp saved ell to deny the former Sunderland captain

Liam Lawrence attempted to replicate Fernando Torres' strike against Blackburn Rovers last season moments later but his sublime half volley from the edge of the penalty area dipped over Camp in the Forest goal before agonisingly bouncing off the top of the crossbar.

Forest nearly doubled their advantage in the 44th minute through Morgan, but his header was well held by Sorensen.

- City goalscorer Dave Kitson in action at the City Ground -

The two sides only been back on to the field for barely two minutes by the time Kitson clinically fired home a superb leveller for the Potters. The ex-Reading man linked up well with Beattie before turning Wes Morgan inside out and smashing the ball into the bottom corner from 15-yards.

City certainly had all hands to the pump for the following five minutes as they twice went desperately close to taking the lead. Firstly the lively and impressive Matthew Etherington smashed a thunderous effort against the post, before Lawrence fired inches wide after Kitson exquisitely played him through on goal.

Pulis made his first changes of the evening just before the hour mark when he unleashed Fuller along with Andy Wilkinson at the expense of Beattie and Griffin. The Jamaican international wasted no time in showing his skills as he beat four players in the centre circle before calmly rolling the ball out wide to Lawrence, much to the delight of the travelling 600 or so City supporters.

The hosts calved out their first chance of the half in the 62nd minute, but after beating Shotton to the ball Joel Lynch saw his goalbound effort bravely cleared off the line by Leon Cort.

Sorensen was then forced into the best save of the night in the 75th minute after Shotton headed the ball towards his own net only to be denied by a brilliant reaction save from the Danish number one. Both side's pushed for late winners, but despite the best efforts of Fuller for the Potters and substitute Dele Adebola for the hosts, both were forced to settle for a draw.

CITY (4-4-2): Sorensen; Griffin (Wilkinson 56), Shotton, Cort, Higginbotham; Lawrence, Whelan, Whitehead (Delap 71), Etherington; Beattie (Fuller, 56) Kitson.