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Nottingham Forest have shown what a good team they can be, when they ‘play without pressure’, says Aitor Karanka.

The Reds boss wants his players to head to Brentford this weekend and play with the same level of confidence in the Championship, after seeing them take apart Premier League Newcastle in the EFL Cup.

Karanka’s side triumphed 3-1 in a dramatic finish that saw three goals scored in injury time, with Salomon Rondon equalising for the Magpies, to cancel out a second minute strike from Daryl Murphy – before both Matty Cash and Gil Dias found the back of the net for the Reds.

It was a deserved win for Forest, who frequently outclassed their top flight opponents at the City Ground.

And Karanka felt the key was the fact that there was less pressure on his players’ shoulders playing in the EFL Cup.

“I said in the press conference before the game that this group of players deserved a performance and today it has been clear that, when we play our football, we are a very good team,” he said.

“I did not say anything, because I did not like excuses – but I could feel that the things that were happening in the games, in the league, were normal things.

“Without the pressure of the league, we showed that we are a very good team. Now we have to learn, we have to be ourselves and we have to take that pressure off.”

(Image: Dan Westwell)

Karanka felt his players enjoyed themselves against the Magpies and hopes they can do the same against the Bees at Griffin Park this weekend.

“It is easy for me to understand the difference of playing under pressure and playing without pressure,” he said.

“Today we played without pressure, because it was a cup game and we did not have to win three points. We went to the pitch just thinking about the game.

“When we are going to the games in the league, I felt the players under that pressure. It has been good to know that, when we play our style, we are a very good team.

“We have to trust them, we have to tell them that we believe in them and trust them to play to the same level as they do on the training ground.

“If we can forget the pressure, we have a very good squad.”

Murphy, the former Newcastle player, was at the centre of things for Forest, not only because of his early goal, but because of his all round display.

“When you are the striker and you do not have another one on the bench, it can be easy for you to have a rest. But he showed that he wants to win every single ball and he wants to win every single game,” said Karanka.

“It is amazing for me how a player like Daryl is performing on the pitch and off the pitch. I wanted him when I was in Middlesbrough and I know how important he can be for us.”

(Image: Dan Westwell)

The only downside to the game was seeing both Joe Lolley and Sam Byram limp off with what are understood to be knee injuries.

“I do not know how serious they are. The medical department and the doctor will have a look at that,” said Karanka.

“They have knee injuries, yes. But I have not had the chance to speak to them for more than a few moments. The doctor does not know yet how bad it is.”