Nottingham Forest boss Stuart Pearce orders players to show fight at Derby County

Pearce has come under increasing pressure as Forest continue to slide down the Championship table following a promising start to their campaign.

Forest, who were beaten 2-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend, now face one of the toughest games of their season when they travel to Derby looking for a return to form.

Said Pearce: “We are suffering a lack of confidence at the minute, but I told the players that we cannot feel sorry for ourselves. I certainly can’t.

“We are going to have to work hard and work through this. Last week we thought things were tough then, all of a sudden, you feel even more depressed.

“But it is important that the group do not hide.

“They need to come out fighting in the way that Ben Osborn did in the second half. I thought he showed great vim and vigour and if there is anyone we need to look to - and I include myself in that - it is him. He was unshakable.

“I do have the confidence that we can turn this around. The nature of football is so volatile that things can change very quickly. We need a victory and we need one soon, to turn our fortunes around at this time. I am more disappointed for the fans than myself.

“It was very frustrating, there was not a lot in the first half but then they broke from a corner and we find ourselves 1-0 down. It hurt us and it hurt our confidence a little bit. We never got that back.”