They just used to lump the ball up to me

Last updated : 17 September 2003 By Tony Scholes

Since Hart took over they have never won four successive games but they have now and they did so with four of their players not really fit enough to play. Hart paid tribute to the four after the game.

The scorer of the first goal Marlon Harewood had not trained because of a virus, Stephen McPhail and Wes Morgan had both had stomach problems whilst man of the match Andy Reid had only 24 hours earlier had a toe nail removed and to play after that I can assure you is no easy task.

Hart couldn’t hide his delight at their attitude, "It’s an indication of the character and the spirit that is running through the Club that these lads were determined to get out there and carry on with the job.

"Lesser players might not have wanted to turn out but it says volumes for the squad that this is the kind of attitude they have."

Onto the game itself and the Forest boss added, "It was wonderful to get an early goal but we knew that Burnley would throw everything at us after half time. But we defended extremely well when we had to and exploited the space we were given at the other end.

"It was an excellent night’s work and although we are very pleased with our results of late we have the small matter of another 39 games to come."

Stan admitted that we would have to start defending better than we did. "Forest are a very good side," he said. "But there are a some very good sides in this division and we need to e more diligent with our defending.

"I thought they were the better side in the first half and we never came to terms with our shape. I changed it around at half time and we improved on that in the second half.

"We created numerous opportunities but it just wouldn’t go in for us, and when it did we were caught offside. We were then caught on the break, we were sleeping and it was all too easy for them.

"We were in the ascendancy until they got their second and had been for about half an hour. We created some chances but we need the rub of the green. A 3-0 defeat looks like a pasting but it wasn’t like that at all and their keeper made a great save from Paul Weller.

"We’ll dust ourselves down and come out fighting against Bradford on Saturday."

Stan reserved special praise for his loan signing Delroy Facey who went into the game after two indifferent performances at Stoke and Coventry "I thought he was excellent and it has to be remembered that he hasn’t been starting in the Bolton first team. The only way he will get better is by playing games."

We’ll allow former striker Gareth Taylor to have the last word. He made his full debut for Forest last night and said of Burnley’s performance, "The way Burnley passed the ball about was great, but we never used to play like that when I was in the side - they just used to lump the ball up to me. But they look sharp and if they start putting their chances away, they could have a good season."