Bouncebackability Pleases Colin

Colin Calderwood today told Nottingham Forest to shake off their frustration and focus on producing the same performance levels for the rest of the season.



The Reds were denied their first away win since early December, as Billy Paynter snatched a last-minute equaliser at Bradford.

But manager Calderwood was delighted with his side's display, which was a vast improvement on their efforts at Chelsea and Carlisle, as Forest bounced back from behind to claim a 2-1 lead through Nathan Tyson and Jack Lester, before Paynter's late goal made them pay for a host of missed chances.

And he says their target should be to set the same standard for the rest of the campaign.

''The only disappointment is that we have not won the game,'' said Calderwood. ''We missed the opportunities that would have made sure we had three points.

''It was a good reaction to going behind and a good performance for the majority of the game.

''There were some great individual performances as well but frustration reigns.

''I don't think we are trying to put a gloss on things or find a silver lining in the performance. In terms of the result we might be, but we deserved three points and we didn't get it.

''We had a better balance to our game, between passing and possession and penetration. We played well.''

The two leading influences in what was perhaps Forest's best away performance of the season were new signing David Prutton and Jack Lester, who flourished in the centre of midfield.

''Jack had a big influence,'' said Calderwood. ''We had a good balance to the team. Prutton and Jack played really well, there was enough to be happy about, but we will wake up tomorrow morning and will be gnawing our fingers again.

''Jack was physically tired at Carlisle and I think that made a difference, but he had a good 90 minutes at Bradford.

''He very much looks to be in form, he will have a steadying influence and a role to play between now and the end of the season. He scored a great goal. It was excellent from our point of view.

''We can smile about how we played, I did not see us losing the game.

''Prutts played with quality, that quality was just simple, in terms of the game. He tackles, he heads it, he makes challenges that affect things.

''He is a good pro, a good performer and one who will grow between now and the end of the season.'

Calderwood was hoping for a win to boost confidence going into a crucial stage of the season, but believes his players can still take some additional self-belief from their efforts.

''This can lift us, it can give us confidence but nobody had really gone into their shell before this,'' he said.

''Trying to play the way we have played, in terms of keeping the ball, we have been top, top drawer.

''We were brave and, if you lack confidence, it would show in people not wanting to have the ball.

''But because we have taken the ball, everyone still wanted it, it shows that we are okay.''




Nottingham Evening Post

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