NOTTINGHAM Forest suffered their fourth straight defeat as their pre-season preparations drew to a close at Swindon.

But, just as they had against Lyon in midweek, Billy Davies’ side produced a display that did inspire cause for optimism, as they prepare for their first Championship game, at Burnley, next weekend.

By the end of this 3-2 defeat a side already ravaged by injuries to six key players had a very youthful look about it, as five teenagers were brought off the substitutes bench.

And, prior to that, Forest had created enough opportunities to have won what was a hugely entertaining, end-to-end affair at the County Ground.

But, with Robert Earnshaw spurning a fine opportunity, Forest only had two goals from Garath McCleary as reward for some promising football.

And a double strike from Thomas Dossevi, in the first half, followed by a Kelvin Wilson own goal, saw the Robins come out on top.

Forest started brightly as a superb 60 yard pass from Luke Chambers sent Chris Cohen racing into space down the left, from where the full-back’s cross narrowly eluded Robert Earnshaw, as Scott Cuthbert cleared desperately.

While a darting break down the opposite flank saw Garath McCleary cross dangerously, with Earnshaw again, agonisingly, failing to connect, with Dele Adebola prodding a poor shot goalwards at the far post.

But, while Forest had begun with urgency and purpose, it was Swindon who snatched the lead in the eighth minute.

Right back Kevin Amankwaah advanced to the edge of the box, from where he delivered an inch perfect cut-back, leaving trialist Thomas Dossevi, a Togo international recently released by Nantes, a simple finish from eight yards.

A nervous moment at the other end, from keeper David Lucas, saw him almost fall short with an attempted pass, with only a strong recovery from Lecsinel Jean-Francois denying Earnshaw a run on goal.

Forest levelled in the 21st minute as a clever, quick free kick from Kelvin Wilson, fit again following his recent shin splint problem, sent Chris Gunter racing into space down the right.

The full-back’s cross was bent perfectly across the penalty area to the far post, where McCleary lifted a close-range shot high into the back of the net.

David Ball, a winger on loan from Manchester City, demonstrated some Premier Division class as he powered into the box from the left and forced Camp into a smart save at the near post.

But it was McCleary who was the real threat, as he plundered his second of the game to put Forest ahead for the first time in the 25th minute.

There seemed to be little danger as the winger advanced down the left but, with the Swindon defence backing off, he tried his luck with a shot that, with the aid of a deflection of full back Michael Rose, found the back of the net from 20 yards.

Not to be outdone, Dossevi then pounced to fire his second of the game just four minutes later, steering an impressive, accurate header beyond Camp after connecting with a Jon-Paul McGovern cross from the right, just on the penalty spot.

Forest almost found themselves behind again in the 41st minute as a Ball corner picked out the towering Scott Cuthbert, who drove a header against the bar.

After the break, Earnshaw spurned a fine chance to give Forest the lead again, as a looping pass from the back by Wilson sent him racing clear, only for the striker to lift a left foot shot wide of the target.

Instead the game tipped in Swindon’s favour again, in calamitous circumstances, with Wilson firing into his own net when attempting to clear a dangerous, whipped cross from Michael Rose, in the 67th minute.

Young substitute keeper Karl Darlow was brought on as one of eight changes Forest made as the game drew towards a close.

And he made a smart save to deny Swindon sub Sean Morrison a goal, palming his powerful header over the bar.

SWINDON: Lucas (Smith 45), Cuthbert, Rose, Douglas, McGovern (Kennedy 86), Pericard (Timlin 61), Prutton (O’Brien 72), Amankwaah, Ball (Bodin 75), Jean-Francois, Dossevi (Austin 45). Subs: Thompson, Evans.

FOREST: Camp (Darlow 78), Gunter (Moloney 75), Chambers, Wilson (Freeman 84), Cohen, McCleary, Moussi (Gibbons 78), Majewski (Bennett 71), McGugan (Thornhill 62), Earnshaw (Rodney 66), Adebola (Mullen 78). Subs: All used.