I AM afraid questions have to start being asked now about the Nottingham Forest defence. Before this, in five seasons as a manager, Colin Calderwood has first and foremost built his sides on a successful defence.

Last season the Reds were promoted after keeping 24 clean sheets in the league. You had to take your hat off to the defenders and goalkeeper.

But this season they have managed just two and shipped 20 goals in 11 Championship games – the most in the league – and are rock bottom.

Now don't get me wrong, they have faltered in front of goa, too. But if you keep a clean sheet, you cannot lose a match.

Yes, there have been some unlucky moments. I accept that. But there have been plenty of mistakes that have proved costly.

And by their own admission, the first goal at QPR was from a piece of slack defending.

After going in 0-0 following a good performance, the manager would be telling them to keep it tight, keep switched on from the whistle, to concentrate at all times.

But looking at the goal, that did not happen and it is disappointing. From there, they conceded a second and it is always a huge mountain to climb.

These guys helped Forest to promotion from League One last season but there is a big difference between League One and the Championship. They are finding that out the hard way.

Calderwood has to make a decision, keep the faith and give them more time to prove themselves or bring new faces in?

But time is running out for them to show they are up to the task in hand and as a former defender myself, I know all about that. It is about keeping clean sheets.

However, despite a seventh league defeat in eight, they have to take all the positives they can from that first half performance at Loftus Road and plough them into two key home games in the next few days.

Tomorrow is Ipswich and Saturday it's Cardiff. One big plus for me was Calderwood finally going 4-4-2, playing two wide men. I have been crying out for that for ages.

It is the way football is supposed to be played in England. It does not need to be made complicated and is the way forward.

The Reds have the wingers within their squad to terrorise full backs and if the players do not perform under that system, bring somebody else in. Using 4-4-2, nobody can complain about the system.

But instead of tinkering because of another defeat, they have to continue to use it to bring some continuity and I am sure with players like Paul Anderson back, it will prove fruitful.

What the Reds desperately need is Joe Garner and Robert Earnshaw fit to lead the line and I hope they are back for Cardiff on Saturday.

Forest need them and for me, Nathan Tyson would be better playing down one of the flanks to utilise his pace to great effect.

But while I keep everything crossed he sticks with the 4-4-2 everyone has been dying to see, I also hope these next two home games bring about much-needed points.

These are no walkovers but two victories are achievable. It is a possibility if all the players can adopt a positive frame of mind tomorrow and all nail their own jobs. If six points can be achieved – and it is a massive ask – suddenly the whole picture is different.

And that includes the defenders keeping a clean sheet for the first time since against Charlton – the last time the Reds secured a point.

I hope it happens for Forest and for the defenders and goalkeeper, otherwise they might find Calderwood looking elsewhere to plug the gap at the back.