Norwich City's profligacy at both ends of the pitch has to end to revive their Championship promotion bid.

Neil Adams admitted the Canaries wasted chances to add to Jonny Howson's first-half opener before Nottingham Forest cashed in on more defensive recklessness to inflict a second consecutive away defeat after the 4-0 rout at Middlesbrough.

Adams got the response he demanded after a fruitless trip to Teesside until the late sting rocked his side at the City Ground.

'I had no doubt that is what we would get,' he said. 'The players are just as determined as the fans to win games. I think you saw, we controlled the game, the shape was good, our ball retention was good. We could and should have scored a second and then I probably think it is game over. We didn't, so although we can say it was a reaction and a positive performance for 85 minutes that is not enough.

'To produce a performance like we did and go home empty-handed is obviously a sickening feeling.

'If the whistle gets blown after 85 minutes then we go home saying, 'perfect response, perfect reaction', and we take all those positives, but ultimately none of that counts because of the result. We have thrown the game away.'

Carlos Cuellar came in for his first league start alongside Turner with Martin switching to right-back at the expense of Steven Whittaker. Bradley Johnson and Lewis Grabban were also recalled in a new-look formation that allowed goal-scorer Howson the freedom to roam in advanced areas.

'I thought the players who came in did well and more importantly as a team we looked a lot better than Tuesday,' said Adams.

'That wasn't anywhere near good enough and this was for so long, but to concede goals like that at the time we did Forest probably think they have got out of jail and stolen the points. That is the hardest blow of all to take. A point would be better than nothing and it's incredible how it happens. To concede in the manner we do cannot continue.'

• City's on-loan striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel scored the second goal of his season-long spell at St Etienne on Sunday in a 1-1 Ligue One home draw against AS Monaco.