Nottingham Forest manager Stuart Pearce believes that his side need to "man up" after they were beaten 3-1 by Birmingham City in the Championship's early kickoff this afternoon.

The result means that Pearce's side have now gone six games in the league without a win and are seven points adrift of the final playoff place.

""We had enough efforts on the opposition goal to win a couple of games, never mind one. But we conceded three horrible, horrible goals and paid the price for that," Pearce told reporters at full time.

"We are lacking leadership and confidence. We spoke to the players after the game and said 'it is time to roll our sleeves up, gentlemen, and man up'.

"We have ended up coming out the wrong side of a defeat because of ourselves, really, rather than anything the opposition did. I don't want to take credit from them, but they did not deserve to win the game. It was a charitable donation from Nottingham Forest. We have to work to make sure that does not keep happening."

Nottingham Forest continue their season when they face Rochdale in the FA Cup third round on January 3.