Nottingham Forest head coach Sabri Lamouchi has backed Ryan Yates to learn from the challenge which saw him red carded in the 0-0 draw at Bristol City.
Midfielder Yates was dismissed early in the second half for a two-footed tackle on Adam Nagy, leaving his team down to 10 men for more than half an hour at Ashton Gate.
Lamouchi had no complaints with referee Craig Pawson’s decision and was impressed with his team’s battling qualities as they came through a nervy finale to clinch a point.
“It was a logical decision,” he said of the sending off. “It wasn’t necessary to make that foul in that moment, there.
“It was clear, and with our young players we just need to help them because with bad decisions and with bad things like today, they can kill the team and the work of the week.
“We just need to focus.
“But I was really impressed with the attitude, also from the players from the bench. They came on and worked a lot. It was not easy.
“Bristol tried to change the system, to put more offensive players on, but we
“Even with one player less, we made three offensive changes. But one point is one point.”
“We know Ryan and he needs to control himself about some duels,” Lamouchi added. “He was really disappointed and upset, but he will learn. This can happen.
“Better it happens now.
“Unfortunately we will lose him while he is suspended and we are not so big a squad.
“We just need to focus on the small details, but the small details are really important.”
The stalemate made it three games unbeaten for the Reds as they returned from the international break against their play-off rivals.
The Robins had not lose at home since the opening day of the season, against Leeds United - but Forest came close to snatching all three points with some decent chances in the first half and a golden one for Lewis Grabban after the break.
“Of course we are happy with a point, because Bristol are a good team and they haven’t dropped a lot of points here,” Lamouchi said. “We started well.
“In the first half we could have scored one, at least. The second half was totally different, especially with the red card.
“We played more than half an hour with one player less, but at the end I think the players deserve this point. It was a great point. Very positive.
“I’m very impressed with the attitude and the spirit.
“What I said at the end of the game was, they need to keep this spirit and this attitude, but they also need to trust in themselves more because we have quality in this squad.
“I’m so happy to work with them and so proud to work with them. They are very nice professionals; very nice guys.
“We just have to focus on the small details - red card, yellow card. Because about the yellow cards and stupid fouls, we can change one game and one situation.
“We just need to be more focused, but the spirit was very positive and we never gave up.”
