'Fell short' - Nottingham Forest's next opponents lacked ideas, admits former Reds striker

The Reds and Cardiff meet in a lunchtime kick-off at the City Ground on Saturday

Nottingham Forest’s next opponents, Cardiff City, fell well short of the standards required in their opening day defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, according to former Reds striker Neil Harris.

As Forest were falling to a 2-0 loss at QPR, Harris’s Bluebirds when down by the same scoreline to the Owls, who started the campaign on minus 12 points after being found guilty of breaching the EFL’s profitability and sustainability rules.

First-half goals from Josh Windass and Jordan Rhodes ensured last season’s play-off semi-finalists made a losing start.

Former striker Harris, who played for the Reds in the mid-2000s, said his side fell well short of expectations and has demanded an improvement ahead of his side’s Saturday lunchtime clash at the City Ground.

"We didn't have enough ideas or creativity against a very resolute Sheffield Wednesday side," he said.

"Trying to get back into the game, we didn't show enough quality to break down a back seven – their five man defence and two holding midfielders.

"Ultimately, if we're not going to show the quality in games like that, then they need to be 0-0.

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"That's where we fell short today. We were architects of our own downfall. That was the difference and in the Championship you'll get punished for that.”

Harris added: "There are 46 games and you have to be consistent. We didn't show the qualities of a consistent Championship side today.

"I've reminded the boys of our standards as a Football Club. Today, we were not at the levels that they've come to show over the past eight, nine months.

"I see the right mentality every day on the training pitch. I know the ability is there, but today we didn't have that creativity and spark.”

"I'm a very disappointed manager tonight, but I've been doing this long enough now to know there's another 45 games to go."