On his general view of the game…

I couldn’t have asked for more today. I think most people talk about the second half – that they’re really positive about the second half. If you ask me, I also see the second half more positively than the first, but when you play on this ground against this team that is in such good shape, you hardly miss a chance in every single game – and I’ve watched that a lot back from them. There are so many counterattack threats that almost every game has one counterattack after another. We only conceded one counter-attack here today in 98 minutes of absolutely dominant football. Unfortunately, the ball went in immediately.

In the second half, our possession of the ball led to many chances. You have to give credit to Nottingham again because the way they defend, they throw themselves in front of the shot, in front of every cross, and then there is a goalkeeper who is having an outstanding season this year and tonight. Since we’re 1-0 down here and it’s so hard to score against this team, that’s not what we wanted – we want three points, but in the end it’s just what I want, what the fans want and what players should want is for them to give their best in every single game. They did that today, coupled with some outstanding football in the second half.

Whether there were any areas highlighted tonight that he would like to strengthen in the transfer window…

I think you saw again today that I can strengthen the team or influence the game with the substitutes I have on the bench. Not for the first time this season, these players that I was able to bring in helped us. Looking at today, as I said, I couldn’t have asked for more. At half-time I said to them, don’t get frustrated, you won’t get many chances, the game will probably be slow, but just keep focusing on what you have to do and hopefully you’ll get two or three chances. Let’s try to score from it. I was completely wrong because they created one opportunity after another.

On how difficult it is to play against Forest and whether their style is ‘unique’…

I wouldn’t say it’s unique, but the style of play suits the players really well and I think that’s every manager’s job: to try to find a style of play that suits their players. What makes it difficult, and we experienced this not only against them but also a bit against (Manchester) United, is that they play the long ball and have some very good players for that. So you have to first make sure you win the first ball and then the second or third ball because they play the ball against Wood who is a very strong scorer and then they have these fast strikers who can hurt you too.

But the moment you win the second or third ball there are 11 players behind the ball and it is so difficult to score against teams playing in a low block; It’s so difficult to create chances against teams like that. And yes, that’s why it was such a disappointment for us to be 1-0 down, because then they were able to play their style even better, which made it a difficult night for us, apart from the (Forest) players I have to compliment the fans who I play, I also have to compliment the fans because they were really there for the home team and tried to influence the game as much as possible. They were a big help to Forest tonight.