Bennett: Forest must make their own luck

JULIAN Bennett has warned that Nottingham Forest cannot afford to wait for their luck to change.

And the defender has urged everyone to take the next two home games against Ipswich tomorrow and Cardiff on Saturday by the scruff of the neck to get their season started.

The Reds lost 2-1 at QPR on Saturday, a seventh league defeat in the last eight games and leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table with only five points.

Despite a good first-half performance at Loftus Road, the Reds conceded twice early in the second period and Lewis McGugan's late free kick was not enough to rescue anything from the game.

Bennett said: "It was a great turn-out in London and I am sure the fans are still behind us. We have played some good football and at times been really unlucky.

"But we cannot wait for our luck to change. We have to make our own and pick things up by the scruff of the neck. If we can carry the first-half performance at QPR into the next two home games, with the fans behind us, we can do something.

"We are aiming for two victories and who knows what can happen from there.

"I think the sooner the games come the better. The fans will get behind us and we have a good chance of putting together back-to-back victories.

"With the 4-4-2, we looked strong and we have to take the positives."

Manager Colin Calderwood opted to start with two wingers with Paul Anderson making his debut and Garath McCleary starting on the left wing.

With Lee Martin and Arron Davies on the bench, it gave the Reds plenty of wide options and Bennett feels that is where they can hurt teams.

He added: "Paul has been unlucky with injury and been ready and raring to go. He is quick and that is a good addition to the team. At QPR he showed what he has got and put in a good performance.

"With the 4-4-2, especially the first half, we created some chances and looked strong. We were in the game but I did not see the first goal because I was getting changed but we conceded a bit of a weak goal and then once it was 2-0 it is difficult.

"With the guys out wide getting at the full backs we can be strong in midfield, all over the park and we were very positive in the first half. So we are disappointed after the good start.

"We have to play to our strengths and we have wingers that can get at people and take on defenders and with the 4-4-2 we will have both wingers on the pitch and cause trouble. We also have others to come off the bench."

Bennett came off at half-time with a hip injury but hopes to play a part tomorrow night.

"I came off as a precaution so I did not get any worse" he said. "We have quite a few games coming up so it is not serious but I will definitely be involved."