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In the warmth of the Spanish sunshine, Aitor Karanka had cut a relaxed, content figure after games. In the slightly chillier surrounds of Boundary Park, the Nottingham Forest manager’s mood, after the final whistle, was just a little bit colder too.

In fact, the Reds players may have achieved a unique feat at the home of League Two Oldham, by incurring their manager’s ire before the first whistle had even blown.

Karanka, you sense, had harsh words to say to his team before the game had even kicked-off, following a pre-match warm up in which the players had not exactly provided a clear cut demonstration of their finishing prowess.

The Reds supporters positioned behind the goal at one end of the stadium, buoyed perhaps by the mood of positivity that has swept through the club over the summer, had indulged in a little light-hearted banter with their own players, as they struggled to beat Costel Pantilimon in one particular finishing exercise. For rather too long.

But, while they had seen the funny side, Karanka was finding it less amusing, as he looked on from the sidelines.

(Image: Dan Westwell)

The former Middlesbrough boss felt their lack of concentration and sharpness during their preparations was reflected in a performance that, while a very long way from being terrible, was also far from being the best this new look squad might have had to offer.

For ten minutes at the start and ten minutes at the end, Forest looked like a side ready to face a new Championship season head on.

It was only what came in between that was the issue.

Karanka labelled it a ‘lesson learned’. But he also understands that, in such matters, timing is important.

Pre-season, after all, is a better time to learn such lessons than when the season has begun in earnest.

And, having given 11 members of his new look squad an opportunity to shine in the north-west – and seen them fail to reach the heights they are capable of – Karanka will give the rest of his squad the same chance on Wednesday night, in Scunthorpe.

Karanka’s reaction after the final whistle should be one that offers encouragement to Forest fans.

This was a pre-season friendly, but his disappointment and frustration were palpable.

This was not about defeat – not least because, while it may have felt like one, against League Two opposition, Forest emerged with a 2-2 draw, following an exciting finale, capped off by some superb work from Joao Carvalho and a deft finish from Lewis Grabban.

What mattered more to the Reds boss was the performance levels.

And, having seen his side produce progressive, positive displays against Lincoln Red Imps, Real Betis and Malaga, this felt like a tiny step back, in the opposite direction.

But, just as a the comfortable 3-0 success over Malaga was not proof that Forest were about to storm to the Championship title, nor was this minor stumble any reason to believe this is going to be a season of struggle.

What it was, was simple evidence that there is still some work to be done, over the remaining two weeks.

And, furthermore, it was evidence of the exacting standards Karanka will be setting for his players.

The work Forest have done this summer, as a club, has been nothing short of outstanding.

With Jack Colback becoming the tenth new addition on Friday afternoon and Sam Bryam, the West Ham defender, the man Forest hope to make signing number 11, Forest have transformed their squad completely.

(Image: Dan Westwell)

What they have now, on paper at least, is a group of players capable of putting together a challenge for a top six finish.

In recent years, many players and managers have said the same thing at the Nigel Doughty Academy. But they have done so more out of hope than expectation.

Now there is a genuine belief that something special is at least possible, with this group of players.

Which is perhaps why this slightly below-par draw was regarded with such a sense of disappointment by a clearly frustrated Karanka.

Forest had named a strong starting XI with Pantilimon making his first appearance in goal, since returning to the club on a permanent basis from Watford, behind a back four that included Joe Worrall – making his return from injury - and Michael Dawson in the centre and Jordan Gabriel and Jack Robinson at full back.

Ben Watson and Liam Bridcutt were the two midfield anchors, behind an attacking trio of Matty Cash on the right, Joe Lolley on the left and Hillal Soudani playing in the number 10 role, just off Grabban.

When Cash drove the ball home first time, following a cross from Robinson, in just the third minute, everything in the garden looked rosy.

Lolley and Soudani both had chances to add to the lead, during a rampant first ten minutes in which Forest could have been out of sight.

But then Oldham found a foothold in the game and, thanks to a well taken goal from a trialist and a powerful header from George Edmundson, they went into the final changes holding a 2-1 advantage.

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A flurry of changes from Forest prompted the desired response, with Joao Carvalho and Gil Dias in particular standing out.

Carvalho had been at the centre of almost everything before he beat his man with a sublime piece of skill, before then lifting in the most cheeky, most intelligent of crosses, to pick out Grabban – for him to apply an emphatic finish at the far post.

A draw was no less than Forest deserved. But, by the final whistle, they merited no more against bottom tier opposition.

On Wednesday, Forest will head to League One Scunthorpe with a starting XI that is likely to look just a little different, with those players who were on the bench at Boundary Park likely to be promoted to the starting XI, along with the returning Colback and potentially Tobias Figueiredo, as he completes his return from injury.

The outcome of the game will not dictate what the season holds for Nottingham Forest.

But the performance the Reds produce might have an influence on Karanka and, more specifically, on his planning, when it comes to what his starting XI might be, both when Bournemouth visit for the final friendly outing of the summer on Saturday and when Forest head to Bristol City for the season opener beyond that.

Forest’s challenge is to ensure that, come the final whistle at Glanford Park, their manager’s mood is again one of quiet contentment.