Sport news for the nottingham and trent valley area

BILLY Davies has said his young Nottingham Forest side must be more ruthless to adjust their style when necessary to turn more games into points in their automatic promotion push.

The Scot was talking in the wake of Forest�s first defeat in 20 games to neighbours Derby County last Saturday as The Rams brute and brawn on a poor pitch eventually ended The Reds phenomenal four month unbeaten run.

But Davies said that his side must stand up to tests like the one posed at Pride Park and become more ruthless in turning their ability into points.

�We�ve got bigger fish to fry, in the sense of remaining matches where we are and what we�ve got to do, it was a three point game and nothing more, I said that before the match,� he said.

�The most important thing now is we look to the next game, it�s disappointing I just don�t think we came here with a ruthless nature and that�s what these young players have got to learn, there was an awful amount going on, on the pitch, and they�ve got to go and match that.�

�What was required here was a different head, it was always going to be that type of battle, we were still trying to play in a certain way whilst the opposition we�re playing a different way and that�s a big lesson for this team and for these young players.�

�They�ve done remarkably well this young team, they went on a fantastic run. We�ve got 18 games to pick up a certain number of points, the most important target is getting over the line.�

Forest and Derby have now been charged by the Football Association with failing to control their players.

The charge relates to a mass confrontation between players and officials from both clubs in the closing stages of Saturday�s game. Both clubs have until February 17 to respond to the charges.

Focus the same for Magpies

NOTTS County caretaker boss Dave Kevan says The Magpies focus is the same as the start of the season-promotion-with players knowing they are expected to be in League One next season.

The Magpies now face another Premiership FA Cup test at Fulham on February 13 after defeating Wigan Athletic in a fourth round replay on Tuesday.

But Kevan insists the focus on the side�s real ambition lies in the league and earning promotion.

He said: �We�re just over halfway in terms of our league games and there�s a

hell of a lot of points to play for, we�re not at that stage yet where we�re

looking

for teams to do us a favour, its up to us to carry on and keep pushing on and

picking up points.�

�You look at the teams around us and they�re all capable of winning matches

so we need to make sure we keep doing that.�

�The players are very driven and they know they�re expected to do well and

expected to be challenging for promotion.�

Kevan is meanwhile delighted with the form of defender Stephen Hunt who

grabbed the first goal in Tuesday�s epic cup win.

"Hunty is capable of doing that and his goal will do him a world of good. It was

great for him to stick his head on it.�

"His performances have been first class since he came back into the team. If he

can keep it going, we've got a good player on our hands.�

Tim Usasz column: Looking forward to the return of 'Stash'

THIS week has been another busy one down at the club, with the guys having to fit in another three games within nine days, and it is no doubt starting to take its toll on their bodies.

I hurt my hamstring against Doncaster last month and am looking at a couple more weeks on the sidelines, which is starting to get really frustrating.

I really hate not being able to play and I�ve been out for a few weeks now so I�m starting to

get extremely bored and just want to get back out on the pitch.

We�ve got a really exciting game coming up on Sunday at Meadow Lane against Bristol, and

I�m gutted I won�t be in the mix for that one.

As I mentioned last week one of my best mates Dan Montagu, or Stash as we all call him,

will be playing for Bristol on Sunday as I was really hoping to be able to get in there and give

him a warm Meadow Lane welcome!

We always look forward to the home game against the ex-Premiership team as it is pretty much

our biggest game of the season.

Of course we will be hoping for a big crowd because this will be a really exciting match, I�m just

really disappointed I�m injured!

Hopefully Hamo and the rest of the guys will say hi to Stash at the bottom of some rucks

for me and make sure he knows he�s been to Nottingham!

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