A jam-packed fixture list offers Nottingham Forest the perfect chance to quickly forget about their opening day defeat, according to Reds ace Matty Cash.
Sabri Lamouchi’s side fell 2-1 at home to West Bromwich Albion in the Frenchman’s first game in charge, after Cash had secured an early lead at the City Ground.
But there is little time for Forest to dwell on that result, with August set to be a particularly busy month in the calendar.
There are some tough challenges ahead, with one of last year’s play-off semi-finalists Leeds United - 3-1 winners at Bristol City on Sunday - to come this weekend.
Meetings with Birmingham City, Charlton Athletic, Fulham and Preston North End all follow, with a League Cup tie against Fleetwood Town also sandwiched in this month.
But Cash says the Reds are relishing the challenge.
“We’ve got loads of games this month - seven in total, so six more to go,” said the 22-year-old, who racked up his 100th appearance in the Garibaldi on Saturday.
“That’s loads of chances to put ourselves on the front foot.
“Win the next couple of games, as we’ll try to, then you’re in a much better position and everyone’s talking positive.
“When you win you can’t get too high, and when you lose you can’t get too low.
“We’re looking it as a chance to pick up some points on the road, and we’ve got a few games at the City Ground as well, so we want to pick up some points at home too.”
This is Lamouchi’s first experience of English football, having previously managed the Ivory Coast national team, Qatar-based El Jaish and Rennes, in France.
But Cash says it has not taken the head coach long to make his mark on the banks of the River Trent.
“He’s fantastic; a really good manager,” said the academy graduate, who filled the right-back spot against West Brom.
“He’s got an identity and a way he wants us to play.
“Every manager is different.
“He gives us loads of positive feedback.
“I don’t know if we deserved to lose the game on Saturday, maybe we should have got a draw.
“But he’s been positive and everyone has just said we need to move on to Leeds now.
“This is early on. Obviously we lost the first game, but we’ve just got to pick ourselves up and go again next Saturday.
“We’ve got so many games to go, it’s crazy.
“We can’t get too down about Saturday. We’ve just got to stay positive and pick ourselves up.”
