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the aftermath of a demoralising home defeat to Watford, it was difficult for Dele Adebola to celebrate netting his first Nottingham Forest goal.
For a moment, the 87th minute strike to pull matters back to 3-2 looked like being the catalyst for snatching a late point.
But after galvanising the home crowd, all hope vanished as Forest's shaky defence proved their undoing as Tom Cleverley fired an injury-time goal to wrap up a 4-2 victory.
While Adebola and fellow striker Dexter Blackstock had broken the Reds duck in the Championship in front of goal, all talk had reverted to the makeshift defence.
Previously only conceding once in three matches, any argument that the depleted rearguard did not need an instant boost was blown away on Tuesday night at the City Ground.
And after two defeats on home soil and only a point from three games, the optimism and feel-good factor on the red side of the Trent has suddenly diminished.
Adebola is a veteran of the game at this level and knows there is no need to panic, pointing to the fact it will take time for nine new signings to gel.
He also accepts that a patched-up defence, with the likes of midfielder Chris Cohen at left back, is not the best foundation for success.
But the 34-year-old striker, who signed on a free transfer in the summer after deciding to quit Bristol City, is now drawing on his experience ahead of a difficult trip to QPR tomorrow.
That, coupled with a home match with local rivals Derby a week later, is Forest's only hope of salvaging a respectable points tally prior to the early international break.
While Luke Chambers is now back from suspension, Forest are still without the injured Kelvin Wilson, James Perch and Julian Bennett as Davies continues his pursuit of a top central defender.
But Adebola is keen to draw on their attacking prowess as they look for a first league win, at Loftus Road tomorrow.
Despite failing to score in their opening two league games, the Reds have impressed going forward as Davies continues to rotate his forwards.
And in midweek, Blackstock grabbed his second goal after scoring in the Carling Cup win against Bradford while Adebola scored with a neat finish.
Now he wants them to utilise that strength to grab a much-needed three points in London.
"In the forward line, the strikers are looking dangerous," Adebola said. "Dexter scored a great goal, Earnie has had chances and you can see all the forwards are looking good.
"Nobody has played more than two games but when we get full fitness it will look good.
"There are six of us and it will be difficult to accommodate everyone but you can see the hunger when everyone gets on. Everyone wants to score.
"Everyone can play together quite comfortably and all the strikers would get into most Championship sides."
While that is the positive to be drawn, Adebola knows it would be foolish to try to gloss over the defensive problems that proved their undoing against Watford, especially in the latter stages.
But he also feels there is enough quality to bounce back quickly and ensure they can be solid at the back tomorrow and give the team the base to collect three points.
"The manager will work with us and get us right again," said Adebola.
"Nobody knows how quick the transition will be but there will be a transition period. We have Chambers back at centre half so maybe we can get a more regular look to our defence now and push on from there."
Blackstock has already discovered his goalscoring ways at Forest as he heads back to his old club this weekend.
He was QPR's top scorer last season but internal politics saw him sent out on loan to the City Ground towards the end of the last campaign.
That move was made permanent, as was the deal for Lee Camp who fell out of favour with the Loftus Road hierarchy after being an ever-present in his first full season and a firm fans' favourite.
The pair will hope to start and while they have their own personal reasons for wanting to do well, Adebola said it is imperative Forest pull together as a team to record a first victory of the Championship season.
He added: "They will have their own personal battles.
"But everyone will be focused on putting in a strong performance to rectify what went on against Watford."
And if Adebola gets on the scoresheet again tomorrow, he will hope it leads to a memorable win so he can celebrate a goal, rather than fielding questions about Forest's frailties.
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the aftermath of a demoralising home defeat to Watford, it was difficult for Dele Adebola to celebrate netting his first Nottingham Forest goal.
For a moment, the 87th minute strike to pull matters back to 3-2 looked like being the catalyst for snatching a late point.
But after galvanising the home crowd, all hope vanished as Forest's shaky defence proved their undoing as Tom Cleverley fired an injury-time goal to wrap up a 4-2 victory.
While Adebola and fellow striker Dexter Blackstock had broken the Reds duck in the Championship in front of goal, all talk had reverted to the makeshift defence.
Previously only conceding once in three matches, any argument that the depleted rearguard did not need an instant boost was blown away on Tuesday night at the City Ground.
And after two defeats on home soil and only a point from three games, the optimism and feel-good factor on the red side of the Trent has suddenly diminished.
Adebola is a veteran of the game at this level and knows there is no need to panic, pointing to the fact it will take time for nine new signings to gel.
He also accepts that a patched-up defence, with the likes of midfielder Chris Cohen at left back, is not the best foundation for success.
But the 34-year-old striker, who signed on a free transfer in the summer after deciding to quit Bristol City, is now drawing on his experience ahead of a difficult trip to QPR tomorrow.
That, coupled with a home match with local rivals Derby a week later, is Forest's only hope of salvaging a respectable points tally prior to the early international break.
While Luke Chambers is now back from suspension, Forest are still without the injured Kelvin Wilson, James Perch and Julian Bennett as Davies continues his pursuit of a top central defender.
But Adebola is keen to draw on their attacking prowess as they look for a first league win, at Loftus Road tomorrow.
Despite failing to score in their opening two league games, the Reds have impressed going forward as Davies continues to rotate his forwards.
And in midweek, Blackstock grabbed his second goal after scoring in the Carling Cup win against Bradford while Adebola scored with a neat finish.
Now he wants them to utilise that strength to grab a much-needed three points in London.
"In the forward line, the strikers are looking dangerous," Adebola said. "Dexter scored a great goal, Earnie has had chances and you can see all the forwards are looking good.
"Nobody has played more than two games but when we get full fitness it will look good.
"There are six of us and it will be difficult to accommodate everyone but you can see the hunger when everyone gets on. Everyone wants to score.
"Everyone can play together quite comfortably and all the strikers would get into most Championship sides."
While that is the positive to be drawn, Adebola knows it would be foolish to try to gloss over the defensive problems that proved their undoing against Watford, especially in the latter stages.
But he also feels there is enough quality to bounce back quickly and ensure they can be solid at the back tomorrow and give the team the base to collect three points.
"The manager will work with us and get us right again," said Adebola.
"Nobody knows how quick the transition will be but there will be a transition period. We have Chambers back at centre half so maybe we can get a more regular look to our defence now and push on from there."
Blackstock has already discovered his goalscoring ways at Forest as he heads back to his old club this weekend.
He was QPR's top scorer last season but internal politics saw him sent out on loan to the City Ground towards the end of the last campaign.
That move was made permanent, as was the deal for Lee Camp who fell out of favour with the Loftus Road hierarchy after being an ever-present in his first full season and a firm fans' favourite.
The pair will hope to start and while they have their own personal reasons for wanting to do well, Adebola said it is imperative Forest pull together as a team to record a first victory of the Championship season.
He added: "They will have their own personal battles.
"But everyone will be focused on putting in a strong performance to rectify what went on against Watford."
And if Adebola gets on the scoresheet again tomorrow, he will hope it leads to a memorable win so he can celebrate a goal, rather than fielding questions about Forest's frailties.
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