Club captain Lomas enjoyed a return to competitive football after two months on the sidelines following the broken toe he sustained against Spurs in November - just two games into his return from a serious knee injury that kept him out for nine months, while Labant experienced his first taste of English football since his move from Sparta Prague earlier this month.
And while both players were substituted as a precautionary measure in the final 20 minutes, their performances did enough to suggest that Glenn Roeder will be able to welcome some added quality into his small first team squad in the very near future.
Lomas provided a typically dogged and tigerish display in the centre of midfield, while Labant, wearing the number three shirt and playing in the left-back position, brought back memories of a certain Julian Dicks with his cultured left-foot, determination and strength in the tackle.
Despite not having played since early December, when the Czech league began its winter break, the Slovakian international looked bright and sharp and could well be named in the squad for Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie at Chelsea.
His display was certainly a bright spot on a frustrating night for the Hammers, who had 18 efforts on goal but failed to find the back of the net after some neat and swift build-up play.
Strikers Paul Kitson and Omer Riza both missed good chances as the hosts took an early grip on the game, with young trialist Liam Rosenior also impressing in the right-back role.
On a fantastic Upton Park playing surface that puts the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United to shame, the game began to open up in the second half, with Forest gradually stamping their mark on proceedings.
Fortunately for the Hammers, the visitors' front two were also out of luck in the penalty area, with Marlon Harewood wasting several good openings and Gary Jones coming close with a header that bounced off the post and was cleared away to safety.
Riza went close again in the dying moments with a header from Adam Newton's cross that flew just wide, but the game was destined to end all square.
Said coach Roger Cross afterwards: "It was certainly a game of goalscoring chances - at both ends. We had some excellent opportunities early on and really should have been leading at half-time, there is no doubt about that.
"It was a good game and we played some excellent football, carving out some great chances but the killer touch just wasn't there. I'm happy with the performance, though.
"I can look back over the season, and there have been a lot of games that we have deserved to win, yet lost or drawn, and the players keep telling me that we should be top of the league.
"It's easy to say that, but we have played some real good football at times and it is only the fact that we haven't scored enough goals that has prevented us from reaching a higher position."
Of the two players in the spotlight this evening, Roger said: "Vladimir looks a very accomplished player, with a magnificent left-foot, and you could see straight away that he has that quality about him.
"Steve Lomas coming back from injury is a big bonus, and let's hope he can stay fit now. It was just a precaution to bring him off, because he has been out for a long while and, when players coming back get tired, they are liable to sustain another injury."
Team: Andersson, Rosenior, Labant (Britton 71), Soma, Johnson, Lomas (Byrne 76), Garcia, Newton, McCann, Kitson, Riza. Subs unused: Jackson, Iriekpen, U'ddin.