Garry Thompson struck a late equaliser for Scunthorpe as Forest warmed up for a play-off semi-final against Blackpool by throwing away a two-goal lead.
Thompson rifled in a 25-yard shot that went in off the underside of the bar to earn an unlikely point.
Forest had earlier produced a fine first-half display and surged into the lead through Joe Garner's cool finish and a glorious George Boyd goal.
But Scunthorpe rallied with Niall Canavan's close-range finish.
Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins on the club's hopes of keeping their star players:
"We need to reward them. They have achieved in the Championship," he said after a 2-2 draw with Forest.
"There are clubs out there who can give them greater rewards but I know the club has done all it can.
"The lads have done the business and they have to do right by themselves. If they leave, they will leave as heroes."
Nottingham Forest assistant manager David Kelly on facing Blackpool in the play-offs:
"We'll go into those games as well prepared as we possibly can be.
"Blackpool have beaten us twice and they are a good team. It'll be a tough game but hopefully we'll have a bit of luck and get to Wembley."
90:00+3:13 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+2:22 Drilled right-footed shot by David McGoldrick. David Mirfin gets a block in. Corner taken by Radoslaw Majewski from the left by-line played to the near post, Cliff Byrne manages to make a clearance.
90:00+0:35 Substitution Jonathan Forte on for Gary Hooper.
90:00+0:15 Garath McCleary sends in a cross.
89:16 Substitution Lewis McGugan leaves the field to be replaced by Radoslaw Majewski.
87:58 Shot on goal comes in from Lewis McGugan from the free kick.
87:58 Booking Matthew Sparrow is cautioned.
87:47 Free kick awarded for a foul by Matthew Sparrow on Guy Moussi.
86:30 GOAL - Garry Thompson:Scunthorpe 2 - 2 Nott'm Forest Garry Thompson fires in a goal from outside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Scunthorpe 2-2 Nottm Forest.
86:01 The assistant referee signals for offside against Dele Adebola. Indirect free kick taken by Josh Lillis.
85:29 George Boyd takes a shot from 18 yards. Comfortable save by Josh Lillis.
85:14 A cross is delivered by James Perch.
84:17 Garath McCleary sends in a cross, clearance made by David Mirfin.
83:27 Garry Thompson challenges Guy Moussi unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Joel Lynch.
80:57 Substitution Joe Garner goes off and Dele Adebola comes on.
80:57 Substitution Matthew Sparrow replaces Paul Hayes.
80:15 Shot from 12 yards by Paul Hayes. Paul Smith makes a save.
79:36 George Boyd gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Grant McCann. Grant McCann takes the direct free kick.
78:47 Shot from outside the box by Gary Hooper goes wide right of the target.
78:07 Joe Garner produces a drilled left-footed shot from 18 yards. Save by Josh Lillis.
77:17 Substitution Paul Anderson leaves the field to be replaced by Garath McCleary.
76:30 Grant McCann sends in a cross, Shot by Cliff Byrne. Save made by Paul Smith.
76:05 Booking Grant McCann is cautioned by the ref for time wasting.
75:28 Shot from 12 yards by Garry Thompson. Gary Hooper has a headed effort from close range and clears the crossbar.
75:15 The ball is swung over by Cliff Byrne, clearance made by Kelvin Wilson.
73:46 Martyn Woolford fouled by Kelvin Wilson, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by David Mirfin, clearance by James Perch.
72:28 The assistant referee signals for offside against Joe Garner. Josh Lillis takes the free kick.
71:12 Free kick awarded for a foul by Sam Togwell on Joel Lynch. Paul Smith takes the free kick.
68:38 David Mirfin fouled by David McGoldrick, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Josh Lillis.
67:49 The referee blows for offside. Paul Smith takes the free kick.
66:33 Effort on goal by Paul Anderson from 20 yards. David Mirfin gets a block in. George Boyd takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Grant McCann manages to make a clearance.
65:38 Guy Moussi has an effort at goal from 20 yards. Josh Lillis makes a comfortable save.
64:37 A cross is delivered by Cliff Byrne.
64:13 George Boyd gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Garry Thompson. Grant McCann takes the free kick.
63:40 Garry Thompson produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.
63:03 Martyn Woolford concedes a free kick for a foul on James Perch. Luke Chambers restarts play with the free kick.
62:38 The assistant referee signals for offside against George Boyd. Free kick taken by Josh Lillis.
60:59 Unfair challenge on Martyn Woolford by Paul Anderson results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Grant McCann from left wing, Paul Anderson manages to make a clearance.
59:52 Corner taken by Lewis McGugan, clearance by Gary Hooper.
59:15 Free kick awarded for a foul by Sam Togwell on Joe Garner. Lewis McGugan crosses the ball in from the free kick, Paul Hayes manages to make a clearance.
57:10 Gary Hooper takes a shot from 20 yards. Luke Chambers gets a block in.
56:49 Joe Garner concedes a free kick for a foul on Jim McNulty. Jim McNulty takes the direct free kick.
54:01 Foul by Guy Moussi on Martyn Woolford, free kick awarded. Grant McCann crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing. The ball is delivered by Martyn Woolford, Guy Moussi manages to make a clearance.
49:37 The ball is crossed by George Boyd, Sam Togwell gets a block in. Short corner worked by George Boyd.
48:52 GOAL - Niall Canavan:Scunthorpe 1 - 2 Nott'm Forest Niall Canavan fires in a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Scunthorpe 1-2 Nottm Forest.
48:32 Corner from the right by-line taken by Grant McCann,
47:24 The ball is sent over by Paul Hayes, blocked by James Perch. Corner taken left-footed by Grant McCann from the left by-line, Gary Hooper takes a shot. Blocked by James Perch.
46:44 Foul by Joel Lynch on Martyn Woolford, free kick awarded. Josh Lillis takes the direct free kick.
45:01 The second half kicks off.
Half Time
45:00+1:14 It is the end of the first-half.
45:00+0:37 Grant McCann fouled by Guy Moussi, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Grant McCann.
45:00+0:20 Joe Garner challenges David Mirfin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by David Mirfin.
44:45 Joel Lynch produces a cross, David McGoldrick produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.
44:36 The ball is sent over by David McGoldrick, Cliff Byrne manages to make a clearance.
42:24 The assist for the goal came from David McGoldrick.
42:24 GOAL - George Boyd:Scunthorpe 0 - 2 Nott'm Forest A goal is scored by George Boyd from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Scunthorpe 0-2 Nottm Forest.
38:59 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joel Lynch by Gary Hooper. Free kick taken by George Boyd.
38:25 A cross is delivered by Joel Lynch, David Mirfin gets a block in. Lewis McGugan takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Grant McCann.
37:32 Garry Thompson produces a cross, Shot by Martyn Woolford from 12 yards. Save made by Paul Smith.
36:11 Unfair challenge on Kelvin Wilson by Garry Thompson results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul Smith.
35:53 The offside flag is raised against David McGoldrick. Josh Lillis takes the indirect free kick.
31:46 The referee blows for offside against David McGoldrick. Free kick taken by David Mirfin.
30:03 Unfair challenge on Paul Anderson by Grant McCann results in a free kick. Luke Chambers restarts play with the free kick.
27:07 Mishit right-footed shot by Martyn Woolford. Paul Smith makes a comfortable save.
26:12 David McGoldrick produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
25:21 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Paul Smith.
24:16 Sam Togwell sends in a cross, Martyn Woolford produces a left-footed shot from inside the area that goes over the bar.
23:46 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by David Mirfin.
22:41 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Garry Thompson by Lewis McGugan. Niall Canavan takes the free kick.
22:08 Joe Garner delivers the ball, Niall Canavan makes a clearance.
18:26 Joel Lynch crosses the ball, clearance made by Jim McNulty.
16:44 GOAL - Joe Garner:Scunthorpe 0 - 1 Nott'm Forest Joe Garner finds the back of the net with a goal from just inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Scunthorpe 0-1 Nottm Forest.
14:55 Unfair challenge on Paul Anderson by Cliff Byrne results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Lewis McGugan.
Correction - 13:56 Joe Garner gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Grant McCann. Grant McCann restarts play with the free kick. The ball is delivered by Martyn Woolford, save by Paul Smith.
13:56 Joe Garner challenges Grant McCann unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Grant McCann.
Correction - 13:30 The referee penalises Martyn Woolford for handball. Paul Smith takes the free kick.
13:30 The referee gives a free kick against Martyn Woolford for handball. Paul Smith takes the indirect free kick.
12:44 Centre by Paul Anderson, Lewis McGugan has an effort at goal from 12 yards. Josh Lillis makes a save.
6:08 Inswinging corner taken by Grant McCann.
5:49 The ball is delivered by Martyn Woolford, Joe Garner gets a block in.
5:32 The ball is swung over by Grant McCann, James Perch manages to make a clearance.
4:54 Martyn Woolford crosses the ball, blocked by James Perch. Grant McCann decides to take a short corner.
3:16 Grant McCann takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.
1:38 Effort from 20 yards by David Mirfin. Paul Smith makes a comfortable save.
1:09 Corner taken by Grant McCann from the right by-line to the near post, Lewis McGugan makes a clearance.
0:47 Paul Hayes takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Save by Paul Smith.
0:00 The game kicks-off.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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