Calderwood: Forest are on the up

FOREST have found the level of performance that will get them out of trouble in the Championship, Colin Calderwood predicted today.

But the manager also warned: "We can't start congratulating ourselves just yet."

The Reds have gone unbeaten in three tough games and produced another encouraging performance against high-flying Birmingham, despite a succession of injuries, illness and suspensions that forced six changes to the starting line-up.

But, while he was delighted with the football Forest produced, Calderwood warned they must start turning their good displays into victories, after admitting he was disappointed not to have collected three points at the City Ground.

"We have hit the level now. We have shown the standard we can get to," he said. "But we have no reason to start congratulating ourselves.

"We have to get out of the bottom three and it is important, psychologically, that we remember that.

"A derby game takes care of itself (in terms of motivation) and a game against any team in the top six adds an extra incentive, particularly when they bring a lot of fans.

"But it is the other games that make you a successful footballer. You might have six or seven matches of this nature in a year. You have to do your job in the other matches as well. Everyone says it is an even division so why congratulate ourselves for picking up a point at home?

"If you look at the table in black and white, it is far from spectacular. We have potential but we have to stay in this division. We have to get ourselves out of the bottom three.

"We are unlucky not to get more out of the match because we deserved it. But the players know that themselves. They know when they have played well, when they have been in the ascendancy."

The City Ground crowd showed their appreciation for Forest's efforts with a standing ovation at the final whistle.

"The important thing was the way the crowd reacted," said Calderwood. "We spoke about it at half-time, we said if we could get a goal it would lift the roof off the place, and it did.

"Whether people saw it as being a little bit David v Goliath because of the changes we had to make and the age of our team, I don't know. But they got right behind us."

Calderwood believes Forest are starting to show the mental strength and character required to pull themselves clear of trouble.

"We had a good response to going behind," he said. "You always need a reward though. You need something back for your efforts.

"It is demoralising if you think you are doing well and you produce performances that everyone congratulates you for – but you still don't get three points.

"That can't continue. We have a winning mentality. We showed that last season, when we played under the pressure that we did.

"While the players are pleased with their performance, they are not happy with where we are.

"It is a mixture of pride and disappointment for me. We have given another really good home performance and not got a victory.

"There are no question marks about what we are doing – that win must come. At the level we are producing, we are giving ourselves the maximum opportunity to win. That is almost all you can ask."