THESE are times of significant change at Nottingham Forest.

Billy Davies, a manager with a reputation for the most meticulous of planning, gave the Reds faithful the chance to see seven of his nine summer signings in action at the City Ground, amid a battling 1-1 draw with Premiership Stoke City.

But they were also given a deeper insight into what the new season could hold, as the wily Scot begins to impose his influence properly.

Lewis McGugan, it appears, was not the only one with orders to slim a little over the summer break.

The midfielder returned with a toned, honed appearance – but even his thinned-down frame was nothing in comparison to the lush green pitch, that had clearly lost several metres in width, as Davies seeks to engineer a tighter, more compact playing surface.

Whether or not that provides any significant clues to the playing style Forest fans can look forward remains to be seen.

But the changes to the pitch are only a small part of the wider blueprint for success that Davies plans to implement, with further proposals to permanently switch training grounds and alter the players' day-to-day routines.

And, on the evidence of this performance, against a robust, hard-working Stoke City side, then one thing is certain.

One of the end results will be a Forest side that is already looking far tougher to beat.

Davies, who watched most of the match from the stand, rather from the confines of a dug-out that is now significantly further from the touchline, will have been largely pleased with this testing outing, although his pleasure in his side's performance will have been dampened by further injury concerns.

Guy Moussi, Chris Cohen, James Perch, Kelvin Wilson, Garath McCleary and Julian Bennett were all frequenting the treatment room prior to kick-off.

Come the final whistle Dexter Blackstock was added to that list, with the striker picking up a slight groin strain during the warm-up.

Fortunately, the performance of another front man, David McGoldrick, will have brought solace, as the Nottingham-born player found the back of the net for the first time on this side of the River Trent.

Forest thought they had taken the advantage in the 13th minute when Joe Garner, playing in an unfamiliar role on the right side, demonstrated an eye for a pass with an inch-perfect delivery to the far post, which Nathan Tyson controlled before lashing low into the far corner, only for an offside flag to cut short the celebrations.

Liam Lawrence, the winger who grew up in Retford and completed his football apprenticeship at Mansfield Town, dipped a shot against the top of the bar as Stoke broke menacingly.

But it was an incisive flourish from Forest that brought about the breakthrough in the 30th minute. Polish international Radoslaw Majewski demonstrated his potential as he lofted a beautiful ball over the top of the Stoke defence for McGoldrick.

The striker was left to supply a straight-forward headed finish into the top corner.

Unfortunately, in Dave Kitson, Stoke possess a player capable of the same level of decisiveness around the box and, two minutes into the second half, he made finishing look easy as he slotted a precise, unstoppable shot powerfully into the bottom corner after escaping the attentions of the Forest defence.

Matty Etherington slammed a crisp shot against the angle of post and bar as City produced a menacing flurry at the start of the second period.

Forest were not without threat as Joel Lynch had a sliding shot cleared off the line and Garner prodded another effort wide, while Ryan Shotton almost scored a spectacular own goal, with only a fine stop from Thomas Sorenson sparing his blushes.

A deflected shot from Whelan flashed close for Stoke and Sorenson produced more heroics to thwart Tyson amid a lively finale.

But, when the final whistle blew, it was a fair outcome and, from Forest's point of view, a performance to inspire a fair amount of optimism.