Chris Burke says Nottingham Forest must beat Rotherham United to kick-start season

Forest were beaten 1-0 at Brighton on the opening night of the season thanks to Kazenga LuaLua’s solitary strike.

Following that defeat Burke says it is vital that Freedman’s men get the better of the South Yorkshire side and pick up some momentum.

“You want to win your home matches, that is always the starting point,” he said.

“It is key to get your first three points on the board as soon as is possible and I am sure every club in the Championship who has not done already will be looking to put that right.

“You cannot win the Championship in the space of one game, so we will take that result (against Brighton) on the chin and move on.

“We have a couple of home games now and we will be looking to win them.

“Finishing the season strongly is just as important as starting the season well.

We want to start well, but how you finish the season can be just as decisive. Nothing is decided in the first few weeks.

“We have to get a win, it is that simple. We were beaten at Brighton but that is not the end of the world yet, is it?” said Burke.

“That does not mean that we are not going to get promoted; that does not mean our dreams are dead just yet.

“We have two home matches now and we will look to win them. That is the only way we can look at things.”

The former Rangers star missed out on selection on the South Coast and is eager to get back in the first team and put the disappointment of defeat behind him.

“I am sure that every club is the same; that every fan is the same. There is a reaction when you lose and everyone has an opinion,” he added.

“That is why we all love football, because we all love to talk about it, we all have an opinion – that is why it is the best sport in the world.

“That defeat did leave people feeling disappointed, but it is down to us to get that first win now and change their opinion again; to make them feel more optimistic.

“I have had a good career so far and this is just the way things go. When you are not in the side, you just have to work hard in training to get yourself back in the side. That is just the way it is.

“I respect the manager and the team he sent out for the Brighton game was a team that we felt would win the match. Unfortunately that did not happen.

“As a player I just have to make sure I do my best when I am given an opportunity.”

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