Bristol City got off to an exceptionally quick start at Ashton Gate, with debutant Andreas Weimann heading past goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon from a Niclas Eliasson cross in the fifth minute. The 'Robins' created several chances in the first half, and were close to making it 2-0 when Marlon Pack's header was cleared off the line by Forest's Ben Osborn.
Forest's best first-half chance came to Murphy after swift play between Portuguese trio Gil Dias, Joao Carvalho and Diogo Goncalves, only for the Irish striker to see his shot deflected onto the post.
Less than a minute into the second half, Murphy equalised for Forest with a flicked header assisted by Adlene Guedioura and the game seemed to favour Aitor Karanka's side.
Bristol City were pressed back by the Forest attack for long periods of the game, though new signing goalkeeper Niki Maenpaa was able to keep his side from conceding late on. The match ended 1-1.
Nottingham Forest have spent around £25m this summer with eleven new arrivals, putting them as a favourite for promotion this season.