Boss Mick McCarthy said his players were all devastated after former Blue Liam Trotter netted a last minute equaliser as Town suffered final moments heartbreak at the City Ground for the second year running. Jonny Parr had given the Blues - who drew 2-2 in last season’s corresponding fixture - the lead with 16 minutes remaining.

“They’re all devastated, they’re all flat, really very, very disappointed,” McCarthy said. “There’s nothing I could say that would make them feel better or worse.

“I haven’t got any words of comfort. I haven’t got any soothing words and I don’t think I needed to be giving anybody any stick.

“It’s one of those, Gerks gets his hand on it, it’s just Johnny on the spot. We managed to block it but it’s Trotter that puts it in. Strikes me it’s Sod’s Law that."

He added: “I think we should have hung on. We shouldn’t have let them out of the corner. That’s what’s cost us, when the ball came in our our box.

“Maybe it’s just the way things are going, it falls to Johnny on the spot. We’ve even blocked it on the line and it falls for Trotter. Sod’s law that.”

Having made several important saves, including a superb stop from Trotter in the first half, McCarthy says keeper Dean Gerken was inconsolable after the match.

“Gerks is sat with his head in his hands, but he’s been fabulous, Gerks. At the time, I would imagine like everybody else when he comes and gets his hand on it he thinks he’s done great.

“But, of course, he collides with Christophe and they’re all on the floor, but I’m not going to be pointing the blame at him for it.”

He says the goal came from Town's failures further up the pitch: “They got a lot of bodies in the box. I don’t think we should have let them out of the corner. Their throw-in in their right-back slot should never have got into the left wing spot.

“We should have nailed that down and we didn’t, we missed a couple of tackles up there. Even if you give a foul away, so be it.”

Despite the late disappointment McCarthy was pleased with the overall performance: “I thought we played well enough. I thought they shaded the first half and we shaded the second, to be honest

“Having got the goal and not really having had to hold on, I think we should have won it. But, hey ho, it’s just the way things are going at the moment.

“We [made the other keeper make a few saves] and we probably didn’t make the most of some of the other chances, but I think they’d probably be saying the same.”

All 10 outfield players celebrated Parr's goal together, which illustrated the team spirit at the club which McCarthy says has never been in any doubt despite the current run of form.

“There’s no doubting the team spirit an the camaraderie amongst the players,” he continued. “I get that when it’s not going well the first thing that's said is ‘The manager’s lost the dressing room…’

“I never ever have lost the dressing room anywhere. We might lose games. The team spirit’s fabulous. I thought it was a good performance. But when we had the stranglehold on, we shouldn’t have let go.”

McCarthy started David McGoldrick, Daryl Murphy and Freddie Sears together for the first time, which he says gives him flexibility.

“I could do both, go 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, it suited us either way. I went to 4-4-2 in the second half and I thought we caused them a lot of problems.

“I thought the performance was good and the performance from players was good but it doesn’t feel like that now because we’d just lost two points with a minute to go.”

He felt playing the three frontmen gave Forest problems: “It worked to a certain degree. How are Murph and Didz going to get better? I guess only through playing.

“But it’s only if they’re the best ones, that’s the way it is. Freddie’s been outstanding. We can go 4-4-2 off that shape, which we did actually and probably had more chances late on in the second half at 4-4-2.”"

He says he may do the same again: “Possibly, because it’s a fairly threatening strike force in anybody’s book. We’ll just have to take a look at it, work at it and see if it’s going to suit us.”

The Blues lost Jonas Knudsen and Cole Skuse to injuries and says both will benefit from Town not having a game in midweek: “He’s damaged his hamstring, Jonas. You don’t run those off and we’ll have to see the extent of that on Monday morning and see.

“Skusey rocked his ankle that caused him to miss the game on Tuesday night, so that’s quite clearly that’s an ongoing thing, so it’s good that we haven’t got a game this week until Saturday, certainly for Skusey. It might give him a chance to be fit. I don’t know about Jonas.

“It’s been a tough week for everybody, just with the games we’ve had. So it might be nice for the lads to rest their limbs and get ready for two home games.”

Forest manager Dougie Freedman felt his side ought to have been in front at the break but in the end was happy to accept the point.

“After they scored we regrouped and put the pressure back on them," he said.

“We changed it around a little bit, and at least we got a point out of the game.

“We should have been at least 3-0 up at half-time. It’s a common theme right now that our good performances aren’t getting the right result.”

Regarding debutant goalscorer Liam Trotter, he added: “I thought he was excellent today. He came into the group and kept on going right to the end.

“He deserved his goal for a fantastic debut and a great performance.”

Photo: Action Images

cats_whiskers added 11:10 - Oct 25 Re: Charity bet 13 points from the next 5 games. = 4 wins and 1 draw Oh my, that is just blind ignorance Q: What do they say about a fool and his money? A: They are soon parted
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algarvefan added 11:31 - Oct 25 A manager should always publicly back his players, you shouldn't expect otherwise. That said, it is apparent that there is an inherent weakness in Barts game, which coaching evidently isn't helping!! Maybe time to give Bart the shirt back, but that won't solve the problem of a side without real quality in it, we have failed to bring in 2 or 3 key quality players, especially in midfield. I have long been a supporter of Mick but I don't think ringing the changes the necessarily will be the answer, the transfer window however might, but by then on current form or chances may have gone, I just thank God we didn't go up last season, or this one could and would have been even worse!!!

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algarvefan added 11:33 - Oct 25 Sorry above should have read "inherent weakness in Gerkins game"
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alfromcol added 12:55 - Oct 25 Firstly, I'm not Deno's greatest supporter, I would much like to see Bart back in goal. All those moaning about him in yesterday's game have to accept that he kept us in the game with a really good save in the 1st half. In terms of the equaliser he did what lots of people moan that he doesn't do and attacked the cross, despite players around him he got a decent punch on the ball, which cleared the line. Unfortunately lady luck was with Forest in the next 10 seconds after that. Watch the video moaners and see what you make of it! Having watched it I don't think the goal was Gerk's fault. Having said all that, I believe that Bark is the better keeper With regard to only drawing the game several players, McGoldrick and Murphy included had very good chances to have won us 3 pts

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Surco72 added 13:07 - Oct 25 I have just watched the video and it looks even worse Gerken came out and took a ball Berra was favourite to win and punched it to one of their players whilst taking himself and Berra out of the game to which a very weak shot was played towards our goal which he would have collected if he had been in position . The first rule of keeping if you come out make sure , by catching the ball or a clearing punch , he did neither as the punch was weak and he shouldn't have been there anyway as defenders were comfortable and in position . Poor decision making poor ability . Does anyone who went think we deserved to win yesterday or were the better team against a poor Forest side , because I certainly do not

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chepstowblue added 13:13 - Oct 25 Well what a bunch of sheep we all are. Lets not pretend we can pinpoint the problems, lets instead just echo the sentiments of every other post because we cant yet think for ourselves. Mick McCarthy is an intelligent knowledgeable football man who's judgement we are not worthy of questioning. Is Bart really that much better than Gerks? I remember Brentford ! Gerks kept us in the game yesterday and to be honest the midfield do not create enough and on the rare occasions that they do we have at least 2 strikers not firing at present. Im as frustrated as the next man but to heap the blame on 1 individual is tiresome and moronic. Jesus wept,this has to be the only forum where using hindsight people still get everything wrong !!

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brittaniaman added 14:06 - Oct 25 The next game on SAT. I would like to suggest that MM comes upstairs to the upper tier of the former Britannia stand and see how the game Pans out from up here (I know he will not) Although it is a lot better view than the touchline where he is looking through Players legs all the game, then he might be able to see where it is going wrong ????? Sears on the wing HEY !! He is a goal poacher not a winger Mick???? 1pt. this week out of 6 not good enough even Brentford have overtaken us now and they sold there best striker?? Two home Games now we MUST, MUST pick up MAX. POINTS To get the fans back on your side MM.

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Plums added 14:07 - Oct 25 Reckon it's time for a beard Mick
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alfromcol added 14:25 - Oct 25 When goal keepers "command their area" they take out anyone who is in their way to get a fist to the ball. Not a bad punch from Gerks nearly to the corner of the box. What were the other town players in the area doing in the next seconds, not covering the keeper or goal very well I suggest.
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warktheline added 14:59 - Oct 25 @chepstowblue, you perfectly present yourself as a 'sheep' in reference to McCarthy's unquestionable football knowledge. Are you seriously suggesting no one has the right or knowledge to question 'no it all Mick' selections? Have I no right to ask why he continues to play players out of position? It's a good job not all football fans have your midset....sheep my a**e !

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bluelady added 15:33 - Oct 25 Carberry with respect hightlights on sky isn't a basis for reviewing how we played - I was there they did shade the first half, we had more possession but they kept catching us on counter. Second half we looked much brighter and had a few spells when we kept the ball on the ground and actually passed. - the goal was such a move. Play like that and with added confidence and we will get back on track BUT we have an issue with keepers Gerkin is a shot stopper and nothing more, and we need another Bru type player to bring off the bench and add flair - we defend way too deep especially when holding a small lead inviting pressure when we should be looking to increase our lead and defend by attacking. I felt however much more positive leaving the game yesterday than I did last Saturday

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Surco72 added 17:24 - Oct 25 Are there any more straws left as some must be running out to clutch at !!
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budgieplucker added 18:09 - Oct 25 I am not a Gerkin fan, I think Bart shades it between the two but is slower in getting down. I am with alfromcol on this, I think Gerks has become a scapegoat for everybody's frustration, the punch wasn't that bad, my question is the same as alfromcol, what were the other town players doing to get behind the ball and defend this after the ball dropped on the corner of the penalty box.? I still think a better number one keeper is required though.

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alfromcol added 21:25 - Oct 25 Watched the rugby earlier, makes you realise what wimps footballers are! AND how undisciiplined the game of football has become.
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Surco72 added 22:50 - Oct 25 That alfromcol I am totally agreed with you !!! It was also so much more entertaining
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runningout added 00:08 - Oct 26 Have you just realised....?
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airliner added 07:10 - Oct 26 some on here keep saying that fans have no right to criticise mm s tactics and management of the team. If you don't like what other forum users say just ignore the posts .
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bohslegend added 10:09 - Oct 26 So incredibly refreshing to hear the ever present moaners OTT comments challenged here lately. I was starting to wonder if there were any fans who who still stick by the team and a manager at ITFC these days. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the younger moaners are merely FIFA16 keyboard warriors convinced that they know more than an experienced and successful MM just because they brought the Blues up from the championship to the premier, won the FA Cup and qualified for the Champions League in 2 seasons. The old moaners are.... well, just that, older moaners who like just about every other club believe that football was much better in their day; muddy pitches, REAL tackles, cloth jerseys, and a pint and a pie after the match (sometimes before it too). So no matter what the modern day teams do, they'll never be as good as the good old days. The reality is we are going through a really tough spell in a really tough era for the club - but that's hardly going to change if we get on the teams back (and the managers) when we don't get a convincing win, and it definitely won't change if the manager publicly blames individual players when mistakes are made on use pitch. The only way to turn it around is to believe and not just give up. That requires patience and tolerance and more support and encouragement from the terraces, not less. Our next few games could put a fantastic new light on things this season, but unfortunately I'm sure the moaners will hold on to their fond memories of things going wrong to kick the manager with later in the season.

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bluescoles added 11:08 - Oct 26 Don't know how many of you were there but Forest looked more likely to hit my car parked half a mile away than our goal in the first half. Despite being the away team I thought we were the more creative attacking team. Pars goal was great. They fluked an equaliser because for ten minutes before then we looked really comfortable playing keep ball up at the Forest end. Should have one it but came away with a disappointing draw. The negativity here is unrealistic and frankly boring. Gerken played well made some good saves. Defence looked very solid held a really strong line against a pacey attack and williams creativity. We will get back to winning ways probably against Cardiff Saturday COYB

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Surco72 added 13:58 - Oct 26 bohslegend ... as always same old we must support the manager for consistently picking the wrong players and playing the wrong tactics and style of football . Do not tell me who spends money every week to watch this dire rubbish , travelling around the country what I should feel or think or say when you do not actually attend any games at all for what ever reason , that is the reality

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Keaneish added 17:12 - Oct 26 So you do or you don't pay to watch Town Cats_Whiskers? I'm confused.
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bohslegend added 19:35 - Oct 26 Surco I don't give two brown ones whether you do or don't pay to see Town each week, your total lack of support when the chips are down is disgraceful. You and many others on here are merely deluded (and long term to
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bohslegend added 19:37 - Oct 26 (Let me finish)... To be be fair) fair weather fans. The team needs your support not this constant groan and never ending one sided attack on the manager and the players he picks.
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Surco72 added 22:42 - Oct 26 So answer exactly how many games do you attend and pay money into the club and cheer the players on ? Your life is full of excuses sat in your house great support well done !!!
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Surco72 added 22:46 - Oct 26 Why did MM leave from the Ireland job , because everyone started doubting his tactical ability and picking individuals over and over again who were not good enough and performing badly , sound familiar ?
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