Forest returned to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon as Manchester City were the visitors to The City Ground.
Steve Cooper made five changes from last weekend's defeat against Fulham, with Jonjo Shelvey making his first start and home debut while captain Joe Worrall, Felipe, Jack Colback and Danilo came into the side.
The Reds made a resilient start and kept the dangerous City attack, boasting league top-scorer Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, quite during the opening exchanges on Trentside.
It was the England international duo who combined to give the visitors the opening chance on eight minutes, Foden finding Grealish inside the area only for Worrall to make a superb block from six yards out to divert the ball away from danger.
Forest looked to catch City on the counter-attack and utilised the pace of Brennan Johnson on several occassions, including on nine minutes as he beat Grealish to a ball before racing into the penalty area but Kyle Walker recovered well to make the block.
Johnson was in-behind the visiting defence again on 24 minutes after being found by Danilo, however the Wales international couldn't direct an effort on target to trouble Ederson from the right side of the penalty area.
Pep Guardiola's side dominated possession without carving out too many clear cut chances inside the opening half an hour, but came closest on 33 minutes when Rodri headed inches wide after being found by Kevin De Bruyne.
With half time approaching, City upped the pressure on the Forest back-line as Bernardo Silva's strike whistled just wide of Keylor Navas' left-hand post on 39 minutes.
However, Silva was not to be denied on 41 minutes as he beat Navas with a superb first-time effort from the edge of the box, lashing the ball home with his left foot after being teed up by Grealish.
Half time: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester City
The visitors looked to take the lead moments after the break on 47 minutes, Felipe saving a certain goal by recovering to poke Foden's pass behind for a corner with Haaland primed for a tap-in at the back-post.
Navas made an important save on 52 minutes as he denied Aymeric Laporte's header from point-blank range before making a routine stop to deny De Bruyne five minutes later.
Steve Cooper made a double change just before the hour mark as André Ayew and Neco Williams replaced Jack Colback and Danilo.
The closest City came to doubling their lead was on 68 minutes, Foden's strike was parried by Navas into the path of Haaland, he hit the woodwork with the first attempt before blazing the loose ball over the bar.
Forest freshened up their side further with 18 minutes remaining as Shelvey made way after a strong debut, being replaced by Orel Mangala.
On 73 minutes, Navas added to his collection of fine saves as Gündoğan curled a free-kick towards the top corner but Costa Rican was there at full-stretch to tip the ball over the bar.
With 12 minutes remaining, Cooper introduced Chris Wood and Harry Toffolo in place of Lodi and Aurier
On 85 minutes, The Reds got the equaliser their effort deserved. Johnson drove at the City back-line before finding Gibbs-White who in-turn slid the ball to Wood at the back-post to finish for his first goal in the Garibaldi.
After four minutes of injury time, Forest saw out the closing stages to claim a point against the reigning Premier League champions, a result which moves The Reds up to 13th in the division.
Full time: Nottingham Forest 1-1 Manchester City
Nottingham Forest: Keylor Navas, Serge Aurier, Joe Worrall (C), Felipe, Renan Lodi, Danilo, Jack Colback, Remo Freuler, Jack Colback, Brennan Johnson, Morgan Gibbs-White
Substitutes: Wayne Hennessey, Neco Williams, Harry Toffolo, Orel Mangala, Gustavo Scarpa, André Ayew, Sam Surridge, Emmanuel Dennis, Chris Wood
Goals: Chris Wood (85')
Manchester City: Ederson, Kyle Walker, Rúben Dias, Ikay Gundogan, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Aymeric Laporte, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Phil Folden
Substitutes: Stefan Ortega, Kalvin Phillips, Nathan Aké, Julián Álvarez, Sergio Gómez, Manuel Akanji, Riyad Mahrez, Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis
Goals: Bernardo Silva (41')