Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi has apologised to fans after the “disaster” of missing out on the Championship playoffs .
Forest needed just a point at home against Stoke to seal a top-six finish on Wednesday night - having been denied a guaranteed spot by a late concession at Barnsley on Sunday.
But Forest were stunned by Stoke, losing 4-1 at the City Ground.
That, coupled with Swansea’s 4-1 win at Reading, ensured a six goal swing and saw Forest fall to seventh, below Steve Cooper’s men.
Having been in the top six picture for much of the campaign, they failed to win any of their final five games.
And that left Algerian coach Lamouchi to lament.
"It's difficult to react," Lamouchi told BBC Radio Nottingham.
"I'm here because it's obligatory to be here, but I don't have words. It's a disaster, to lose everything in the last game at home.
"I'm so sorry, sorry to the fans for the last few games.
"For me it doesn't feel real, but it is the truth, we are out of the play-offs. It's just unacceptable."
Lamouchi continued: “One point was enough tonight. Enough three days ago, enough last week. We were so close.
"I'm so down thinking about the fans, the club, my family, the players and staff.
"It was unacceptable, what has happened in the last five games. I was furious after Derby for this reason, as we looked to be secure before what we didn't want to happen, happened.
"How is it possible? To fight all the whole season, for many games, and many weeks and now we are out of that."
Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip.
