Shrewsbury Town Boss Paul Hurst praised his sides battling display as they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup.
Town put in a good performance and almost snatched an equaliser late on, but Forest hung on for a 2-1 victory.
“I think we ran them more than close”, Paul told the Press.
“I think being 2-0 down was harsh on us to be honest. We’ve only got ourselves to blame for the first goal. The second goal is a foul against us and there player should have been booked.
“The referee is trying to say it doesn’t matter, but it does matter because they’ve scored at the other end of the pitch.
“We get a penalty in the end. I think we should have had another one jearlier against Shaun Whallley. He’s eight yards out, wrong side of the defender, I think it’s got to be a penalty, but it wasn’t to be.”
Despite not getting the desired result, Paul believes his side put in a good performance and he hopes that it gives them confidence for the season ahead.
“For large parts I felt we more than held our own and played some good football”, said Hurst.
“I think my only complaint at half-time and at the end of the match to degree is that I felt we lacked a little bit of belief first-half. We were a bit tentatitve to go forward.
“Second half we were better. Jon Nolan picked the ball up and drove second half and that’s what we want to see. I just feel that that is the mentality we have to take into the season – respect people, but have belief.
“Now they’ve seen they can compete against some very good players and hopefully they can take that forward into our league campaign.”
Town went incredibly close at the end as Alex Rodman met a Shaun Whalley header, but Hurst now wants his side to concentrate on the league.
“I thought Rodders had misjudged it at first”, admitted Paul.
“He got up well and it was a good header. I would have taken extra-time because I was enjoying the game, but in some ways it’s a blessing that we aren’t having 120 minutes ahead of taking on Wimbledon on Saturday.”