Video: Dougie not tempted to go ‘gung-ho’ and insists his strikers are confident
Forest’s slim hopes of reaching the coveted Championship play-off places are fading fast after another defeat, their fourth in a row, on Saturday against Ipswich Town.
The Reds dominated for large parts of the game at Portman Road but again Dougie Freedman pointed to his side’s lack of cutting edge.
Following the 1-0 away loss, he added he would have to re-assess his side’s approach after another blank in front of goal.
However the Scot insisted he is not worried about his side’s lack of goals of late and says it is nothing to do with the confidence levels of his forwards.
Young winger Deimantas Petravičius came on for his full début at the weekend and impressed Freedman, who may be tempted to include him in his plans tomorrow night at home to Preston.
Freedman said: “He’s done very well of late. We need to remember he’s only a young man that has come from a different background.
“I’ve been speaking to the academy guys who tell me he is developing a little bit slower than they first thought but he’s really coming along now.
“He’s training with us, doing good with the under-21s and with losing Ward and Oliver Burke, he’s got an opportunity that he needs to grasp. I thought his performance was good, he did exactly what I asked him.”
Forest did everything but score on Saturday and Freedman will have to consider carefully how he changes his side or whether to stick with two up front again.
Chris O’Grady and Tyler Walker will both be challenging for a return to the front line and may come in for top scorer Nelson Oliveira or Dexter Blackstock.
The defence is unlikely to change unless Freedman decides to move Michael Mancienne into midfield and bring Jack Hobbs in to try and stop the rot.
Preston drew 0-0 with Brighton last time out following a defeat to Cardiff City the week before and will be looking at the likes of former red Joe Garner to fire them back to winning ways.
