THIS was not so much a victory greeted with a note of caution, as one heralded with a loud, trumpeting fanfare of genuine concern from Billy Davies.

While the Nottingham Forest manager has just cause for worry, as a growing injury list begins to make his newly-inherited squad look paper thin, there can be no questioning his side's character and determination, both of which they possess in bundles.

It is a damning statistic that, prior to last night, the Reds had never once managed to come from behind to claim a victory in the Championship this season.

While they might have been aided by a petulant tackle from Francis Jeffers, that left Sheffield Wednesday to complete the second half with only ten men, they had to show impressive reserves of character to do so.

Forest's FA Cup clash with Derby County had taken its toll in the form of injuries to Joel Lynch, Paul Anderson and Chris Cohen, leaving Forest to draft in a trio of players who had amassed only 15 league starts between them all season.

But the performances of Joe Heath, Arron Davies and Garath McCleary set the tone for an evening when it was Forest's resolve and determination that helped them every bit as much as flair and finesse.

Davies' squad had more or less selected itself, with 16 of the 17 fit players available chosen. And, with a dozen of those all aged under 22, their lack of experience was occasionally exposed.

Sheffield Wednesday dominated for long periods, even when they had been down to ten men.

But Forest still emerged with a deserved three points that, for the first time, put some breathing space between themselves and the bottom three.

But the one area where there remains a large degree of uncertainty is over which players will be fit enough to make the journey to Cardiff on Saturday.

Because, as had been the case at Derby, last night's victory came at a price, with Robert Earnshaw forced off with a hamstring problem, Nathan Tyson collecting a calf injury and Ian Breckin finishing the game with a troublesome groin.

Forest had, seemingly, been left with a mountain to climb after the Yorkshire side edged into the lead from a corner, conceded as the composed figure of Heath cleared into touch.

Darren Potter swung the ball left-footed towards the edge of the six-yard box to Richard Wood, whose downward header was flicked high into the back of the net by the swivelling Jermaine Johnson.

The goal prompted a tactical change from the dugout, with Davies pushing McCleary on to the left flank, Tyson on to the right and Davies into a central position behind Earnshaw.

And the switch around prompted an immediate response as, within five minutes, Forest were level.

A cross from McCleary had been the spark for Forest's leveller at Pride Park last Friday and the winger was a central figure again, this time as he threaded the ball through the centre to send the ball into the lengthening stride of Tyson, who lifted a calm, composed finish over the advancing keeper.

And Wednesday suffered a second swift blow, albeit self-inflicted, as they found themselves reduced to ten men.

Jeffers, a striker once considered to have a bright future in the Premiership by Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager who normally possesses such a keen eye for talent and had been persuaded to part with £8m for his services, further dented his declining reputation with a clumsy but brutal two-footed challenge on Heath.

The last time Forest found themselves up against ten men, it proved to be one of the final nails in Colin Calderwood's coffin at the City Ground as, despite the numerical deficit, Norwich City won 2-1.

And there were nervous moments in the first minute of the second half as Marcus Tudgay was guilty of missing a fantastic chance, heading wide after Paul Smith had failed to collect the ball on the edge of his six-yard box.

It got worse for the home side as Earnshaw, who had netted five goals in five previous outings, limped off to be replaced by Joe Garner in the 55th minute.

McCleary then had the ball in the net after being sent clear by Tyson, but the linesman had correctly raised his flag long before the winger chipped the ball into the net.

Tyson's pace was beginning to stretch Wednesday, with the striker loping clear down the left and squaring the ball into the path of Garner, who drove high and wide with an instant drive.

But Tyson was then too greedy when, with substitute Matt Thornhill unmarked in front of the goal, he chose to shoot from a tight angle instead of squaring the ball.

It seemed like it might be a costly moment.

But McGugan's delivery from set-pieces continues to be a potent threat for Forest and, when the midfielder bent an enticing free-kick towards the penalty spot, Luke Chambers rose majestically to flick a deft header into the net off the inside of the post in the 75th minute.

And, while Forest had previously struggled to find a chink in the Wednesday armour, the visiting defence then seemed to fall apart.

Tyson was far more selfless when, having broke into space on the right, he picked out Garner, whose instant shot brought a superb save from Grant, flinging himself acrobatically to his left.

And, with Wednesday's physical and mental strength visibly draining away, Forest were able to comfortably hold on for victory.

Even if Davies is successful in the transfer market, Forest's own reserves of such qualities will be sorely tested in a few days' time.

But, with Davies having installed enough belief in his players for them to bounce back from behind to claim victory for the first time this season, who knows what is possible?