NED Kelly believes Nottingham Forest can be proud of their efforts against Leicester City – and predicted the club would bounce back stronger next season.
The Reds were denied a play-off place as the Foxes snatched a 3-2 win - and a place in the top six - on a dramatic afternoon at the City Ground.
Anthony Knockaert scored in injury time as the sides battled it out for the vital goal that could have steered either of them into the play-offs.
But Kelly insisted there was little disappointment in the Forest ranks – only pride in the job the squad have done since he and manager Billy Davies returned for a second spell in charge.
"I am extremely proud of the players, the players have been absolutely brilliant. We had a right good go, we knew that we had to score...We knew that what was going on elsewhere. We went for it," he said.
"This is stage one and step one of trying to get Forest back to where we all want them to be.
"The players showed pride in that performance. Don't forget that when we came in 15 games ago, we were in a extremely difficult position.
"If you had asked anybody if we could take it down to last moment of the last game of season, I'm sure everybody would have said that you are all mad.
"But the belief we all had in the squad, the desire and application that the manager has installed in every player and staff, we are extremely proud of that performance. Well played Leicester, well done. We wish them well."