NOTTINGHAM Forest must find their nerve if they are to resurrect their promotion push over Christmas, warns boss Stuart Pearce.
Pearce's Reds were denied a deserved three points against Leeds United as two perfectly good Matty Fryatt goals were wrongly chalked off for offside at the City Ground.
But the manager still felt his side lacked confidence and composure against their struggling opponents, who escaped with a 1-1 draw.
And he has called on his players to shake off their nervousness and have faith in their ability, as they head into two tough games over the festive period, starting with a difficult trip to Middlesbrough on Boxing Day and followed by the visit of Birmingham City less than 48 hours later.
"I know the team have created chances and I know we have got three goals in the game. But there is a tinge of frustration that you can feel among the players and the fans," said Pearce.
"The players are in the dressing room, they are very disappointed that we have not won a game. We have to address that nervousness and frustration that is in our play.
"That is the missing ingredient that we need to solve at this moment in time.
"The endeavour of the players is commendable.
"We work harder than the opposition, we look stronger at the end of games than they do – we just need to be cuter in our play.
"The penalty came after we had possession in a fantastic position in their final third. We gave the ball away cheaply. It is little things like that which cost you dearly in professional football."
Following the dramatic scenes at Birmingham recently, when the fourth official intervened to award a penalty to the home side, Forest were hopeful fourth official Eddie Ilderton would do the same at the City Ground on Saturday, after a replay of Fryatt's second disallowed goal was shown on the big screens in the stadium.
The home fans were left incensed at seeing clear evidence that the decision was incorrect.
Ironically it is Forest who could find themselves in hot water as it is against Football League rules to show replay's of controversial incidents during games.
"We did speak to the fourth official, of course we did," said Pearce. "That came from the Birmingham game. After that, I felt I had a fair case to go to speak to the fourth official.
"I told the fourth official that they had got the decision wrong, in the first half. We also told the assistant referee as well and he said to me that it must have been very close.
"But then in the second half he got another one that was 'very close' wrong.
"They are professional people and I am sure they will go home and watch the game and be more disappointed than I am. Actually, I am not sure that is true."
Pearce admitted he felt bad for Fryatt in particular – but believes the striker can go on to fire plenty more goals for Forest this season.
"We hope he can. If he starts in front of Britt (Assombalonga), at any time, we hope that he will be as clinical in front of goal. Just as he was today," said Pearce, who made the bold decision to leave top scorer Britt Assombalonga on the bench.
"It is not about Britt, solely. I don't work like that as a manager. It is about the people I think have their tails up and are doing well for us.
"It is a level playing field at every club or organisation I work for. The people I feel are on form I will back and put in the team.
"Dexter (Blackstock) has done well and Matty has done well, that was the situation. And where Britt is concerned, we are dealing with a 22-year-old.
"He is a young boy who is learning his trade. He will keep improving, but he has to keep learning."
