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The feel-good factor around the City Ground was manifested in memorable fashion on Friday night as more than 28,000 saw Nottingham Forest beat Millwall.

The sense of optimism remains, especially after a 1-0 win in the first game of the season, but the sense of occasion will be far less evident on Tuesday night, when Forest take on Shrewsbury Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

The gate is likely to plummet below 10,000 and manager Mark Warburton has already admitted he will make up to 10 changes.

To say admitted implies those who come in will be inferior players. Try telling that to Warburton.

He is adamant those that start are good enough to play any time, any place in the Championship.

For him, there is no need to frame the visit of a League One side as an opportunity to impress for those left out against Millwall.

In the former Brentford boss’s mind players should want to catch his eye no matter the occasion – and if that isn’t the case they have no business being at the club.

(Image: Dan Westwell)

“You can’t have a squad of 24 players but only trust 11 or 12. Too often people say that’s your set 11,” he said.

“How do you feel if you’re number 18, 19 or 20? It’s about absolute faith in players, which we have.

“We want to go as far as we can in the cups and we’ve got the 46 league games, so it’s a very challenging nine or 10 months ahead.

“They’re good professionals. They know the score and how they have to work.

“Every time they pull the shirt on they should want to impress, otherwise they shouldn’t be in the squad.

“It’s a competitive game against an eager opponent. We have to work hard to get the rewards and to move on from there.

“We’ve got a very strong squad. It will be an 11 I could easily field in a league game and I’d have no hesitation in doing so.

"Every member of the squad must be in position to make a valuable contribution.

“Touch wood we’re in that position.”

For Warburton, the Forest squad is an egalitarian one. He knows how good they all are and every player is capable of delivering.

He insists no one asked him why they were not selected against Millwall, but that does not mean players will not be disappointed.

They are part of a collective though - and that means intense training sessions with players being in a position to take their chance when it comes.

That chance will come for plenty against a club who have never played Forest before, despite their long histories.

“It’s about the squad. It’s not about the individual, or the unit or the 11. It’s about having faith in the squad and the group knowing we belief in them,” Warburton said.

“I think we’re in that place. They know what we think of them.

“They have to train hard every day. The intensity of training has to be there.

“You have to maximise the opportunity on the training ground. If they do that it’s a tough job to have (picking a team), but it’s a nice problem to have.

“Some players will be disappointed but it’s a long season.

“We showed our hand a little against Burnley.

“That was the team for the first league game. After that everyone knows they’ve got to work hard.

“Don’t forget, Chris Cohen didn’t start on Friday. He’s the club captain and hugely experienced, but he knows the team played very well against Burnley.

“It’s about being patient, working hard in training and taking your chance when it comes along.”

(Image: Dan Westwell)

Shrewsbury arrive at the City Ground after a 1-0 win in their opening game of the season against Northampton, after Lenell John-Lewis scored a 92 minute winner at the New Meadow.

Warburton has watched the game back and feels confident he knows what threat Paul Hurst's team will pose.

Forest will go into the game as favourites, but fans will need little reminding of the danger of an early exit.

It is only two years since they lost at home to another League One opponent from the West Midlands in Walsall, although that was the only time the Reds have lost in the first round in the last six seasons.

Warburton is calling for the team, whoever makes it up, to defend their pristine turf passionately in order to extend that run on Tuesday.

“We’re at home. It doesn’t matter if 5,000, 25,000 or 30,000 are watching,” he said.

“It’s a great playing surface and it’s our venue. We have to make sure we come here and defend it with a real passion.

“We’ll look to deliver the performance and result before we look at Brentford at the weekend.

“Shrewsbury are very solid. They’ve had a positive result to start with.

“They’re diligent and look to play. We’ll pay them absolute respect.

“We think we know what challenge they’ll present so we’ve got to have our absolute A game.”

Warburton will hope the A game is not extended to the ABBA game and Forest can get through without the need for the new penalty system that was witnessed in Sunday’s Community Shield.

However, he made it clear that a win is a win after victory over Millwall. If Forest make it two from two before going to his former club Brentford on Saturday he will be justified in the sweeping changes that are to come on Tuesday.