IF the thinly-veiled message had not been understood on Tuesday evening, it was impossible to overlook when it was delivered in far more stark tones in the shadowy surrounds of Ninian Park.

As the lights went out in Cardiff, Billy Davies delivered a dark warning from the gloom of the dugouts; a prediction that, without new additions, Nottingham Forest's season was destined to be nothing more than one long struggle.

After the hard-fought win over Sheffield Wednesday at the City Ground a few days previously, when Davies had offered a similar caveat, the manager's words could easily have been written off as an attempt to play down the rapidly-soaring levels of optimism at the club.

But following what was an almost entirely one-sided defeat in a frozen corner of Wales, his repeated warning took on a far more worrying light.

A run of six games without defeat, taking in a dramatic FA Cup success at Manchester City and vital wins over relegation rivals Norwich City, Southampton and Charlton, had not only carried Forest away from the relegation zone, but also lifted the spirits as well.

One defeat – coming at the home of the Championship's form side – is hardly sufficient to erase the sense of optimism completely. But, without doubt, it provided a fresh, more realistic perspective on the challenge that lies ahead for Davies, as he looks to ensure that Forest are not sucked back into the bottom three.

Under Colin Calderwood, there was always the sense that this Forest squad had been under-achieving. But, while Davies – and John Pemberton before him – quickly found a way to best utilise the resources available, he is not a miracle worker.

And, when Forest's injury-ravaged squad travelled west to face a Cardiff side packed with experience and quality, the short fallings in their own ranks were finally, decisively, exposed. This is not a reflection on the quality of Forest's young players or the potential they possess. Indeed, this was not a match without stand-out performances from within the Reds side.

Wes Morgan and Ian Breckin were again commanding in the heart of defence, after being reunited in the back four. James Perch and Chris Cohen worked tirelessly in midfield and Nathan Tyson, playing for much of the afternoon as a lone striker, showed bravery and endurance to persistently get himself into good positions, even as chances kept going begging.

But, while Cardiff had the likes of Darren Purse, Eddie Johnson and Stephen McPhail to call upon from their bench, an injury in the warm-up to Arron Davies left Forest with a line-up of substitutes that included only one player, in Joe Garner, who has ever had a regular run of first-team football.

Following a poor first half in which Forest had failed to offer any attacking threat, Davies had used the only ace up his sleeve when the former Blackburn and Carlisle man was introduced at the interval. In the end, while their second-half display was much improved, a Cardiff victory was still always the only likely outcome, as, for all their determination and fight, Forest failed to find a way to expose the home defence.

One Forest fan had been forced to return to the back seat of his car prior to kick-off, in an attempt to sleep off the residual effects of a Friday night out in Cardiff. For the first 30 minutes of this clash, he could have contented himself in the knowledge that he had missed little in the way of action.

When Paul Parry latched on to the ball after Ross McCormack's shot had taken a deflection, and lashed an emphatic finish low into the bottom corner in the 18th minute, it was the game's first effort on goal of any description.

The entertainment levels hardly improved. Jay Bothroyd fired wide after McCormack's invention finally provided a moment of quality.

And Morgan had to produce an outstanding tackle to snatch the ball off the toes of Joe Ledley, as the Cardiff skipper seemed certain to score.

The partisan crowd were baying for a penalty but, for once, fussy referee Grant Hegley – who awarded close to 30 free kicks against Forest – was not influenced by their ill-justified complaints.

Forest's opportunities were limited to a couple of half-chances that fell to the lively-looking Tyson, who could not match the quality and timing of his runs with the same level of finishing.

Garner did provide some support for Tyson, who tested Peter Enckelman with a stinging shot that the Cardiff man was relieved to see arrow narrowly over.

The striker had the ball in the back of the net when he looped a brave header over the keeper, who had half-heartedly challenged on the edge of his box – only for Hegley to let Cardiff off the hook by awarding a soft-looking foul.

Forest could have few complaints when Bothroyd finally struck to secure the three points that Cardiff had deserved, languidly swerving his way through two challenges before bending a precise, unstoppable finish off the inside of the far post, in the 87th minute.

Today, Davies and the City Ground hierarchy will continue their efforts to bolster the squad with new signings.

With Arron Davies now having joined the lengthy injury list with a calf strain, the significance of those efforts has only been heightened. Forest need new blood, because this young squad of players – for all their ability and character – cannot be expected to carry the fight on their own.

As the manager lamented, this was a tired, jaded performance from a group of players whose efforts over the past month have been commendable. On Tuesday, when the manager described victory over Sheffield Wednesday as being an 'unbelievable' feat for his side, it seemed something of an exaggeration.

But, by Saturday evening, it had become a little easier to understand his sentiments.

paul.taylor@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk