Nottingham Forest manager Dougie Freedman has suggested that his side will 'only get better' following their mixed start to the season.

The Reds have won three and lost three of their opening eight games, with Saturday's 2-1 home defeat against Middlesbrough ending their recent positive run.

Freedman was full of praise for opponents Boro after the defeat, claiming that the Smoggies will lift the league title this season, but he is more than happy with his own side's current standing.

"We are only going to get better as a team," he is quoted as saying by the Nottingham Post. "We are going to get more confident. I am really happy with what I have seen. We did not take anything from the game, but we should have done.

"We will move forward with confidence. I am happy with where we are right now. Middlesbrough are probably a year or two ahead of us, but we are on the right path. I am disappointed with the result, but we are only going to get better."

Forest, who are currently 11th in the second tier, return to league action on Thursday when they take on Huddersfield Town.