Jack Colback admits Nottingham Forest have felt flat after a run of form which has killed their hopes of achieving their play-off target this season.
The Reds have seen their promotion dreams left in tatters after a week which saw them lose three games in a row, to extinguish any hopes of a top six finish.
Defeats at Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday, rounded off with a 2-1 humbling at home to Blackburn last Saturday all but ended their play-off hopes and ramped up the pressure on manager Martin O’Neill.
In each of the games, the Reds had chances to take the lead but failed to do so on each occasion, and were caught napping in each, something the on-loan midfielder admits needs to be put right as they prepare to face old foes Sheffield United at Bramall Lane this lunchtime.
"That is the nature of the league; you have got to be right,” Colback said. “The first goal is so important and it is something that we need to put right as quickly as possible.
"Of course, it is a bit flat after defeats and more so considering that we have fallen short of our target in getting to the play-offs.
“But you have to pick yourself up as quickly as you can. We have another game coming up tomorrow and another on Monday.
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"We could have easily won the games that we haven't done. We had chances to win at Rotherham and then at Sheffield Wednesday we could have won 3-0 but end up getting beaten 3-0.”
Forest travel to Bramall Lane looking for their first win in that part of the Steel City since April 2004, a run of six games, and with the Blades chasing three points which would put them second, albeit for a couple of hours, the 29-year-old is under no illusions about the size of task facing O’Neill’s Forest.
"Sheffield United will be a tough game,” he said. “They have a unique style of play which is hard to deal with at times. We have to go out there and apply ourselves as professionals and try and win the game.
"It will be intense. They are going for the top two; they drew their last game so it is one they have to win. We have to set up right, deal with their threats and make the most of our time on the ball and what we can do with it going forward.”
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Forest haven’t managed an away win in the Championship since a 2-0 win at Hull in November, and with unrest growing on the terraces at the way in which the season has petered out, Colback has stressed the importance of finishing the campaign on a bright note.
"It is important to try and finish with some momentum. At any stage of the season, you don't want to lose games.
“Even if it is the last game of the season with nothing to play for you don't want to lose the game. You want to win for the fans who have been there all season."
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