Chris: We Must Move On

Chris Powell says the players have to "take it on the chin" that they lost on Sunday against Nottingham Forest - and bounce back quickly.

"Looking at the way the game went we were in control, looking for that second goal, but to be fair to them they got two superb strikes and I suppose some would say it was written in the script because of the day.

"We obviously paid our respects to the great man but we went there to get three points - and I still feel we should have got them," he says.

"We missed a great chance - a 20 point return from the games we have had would have been fantastic, but now we are on 17 and we have to take it on the chin and go again; we will look back on that game as three points lost, definitely, not one.

"We have got some fantastic players, enough to bounce back, but our character will be tested now - and we have got that in abundance.

"I would not blame anyone for the second goal which was a fantastic strike but as a team we lost it; we really should have killed the game and had enough know-how about us to shut up shop and close the game.

"I went off the fielding thinking we restricted them, but obviously not enough - we should have made it so their heads were down.

"That is the first defeat for us since I have been here; I have seen what we are about and what we like to do and at first they couldn't get near us.

"To be fair to Forest they had character and kept going and obviously it was a special day for them so they were happy.

"We will have to take it on chin and start again for Wednesday, that is for sure."

Teddy Sheringham and Marlon Harewood placed a signed West Ham shirt on the shrine to Brian Clough before the game, while Rufus Brevett also placed his own shirt amongst the tributes left by fans at the City ground.

"Teddy and Marlon are two ex-Forest players and it was poignant that those two put the West Ham shirt up for Mr. Clough," says Chris.

"We all know how special he was and it has been a sad week, but Forest paid as big a tribute as they could to him.

"At least we have paid our respects, though we wanted to win - and sadly we didn't."

Chris returns to another of Clough's former clubs - and one of his own, too - on Wednesday and he says:

"They had a tribute on Saturday but I am sure they will carry on; I am looking forward to going back to a smashing club."