The play-offs now look to be a very long way away for Nottingham Forest after a convincing 3-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Tuesday night.

After an uneventful first half, it was Wednesday who flew out of the traps at the start of the second when George Boyd set-up Marco Matias to give the home side the lead in the 47th minute.

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It was 2-0 just 11 minutes later when Lucas Joao's pass found its way to Boyd on the left-hand side of the box who then lashed a brilliant shot across Steele and into the net before Matias notched his second in the 68th minute to kill off the game.

Martin O'Neill rung the changes in the Reds line-up with the likes of Sam Byram, Arvin Appiah and Luke Steele all called upon to start, but one significant name did not even get on the pitch.

So, how will Joao Carvalho be feeling following yet another snub from his boss?

Having arrived for such a significant transfer fee back in the summer, Carvalho looked set to play a huge part in Forest's season, whatever it entailed.

But now, having started just twice in 16 matches since the turn of the year and not seeing any action at all in seven of them.

His confidence will surely be at rock-bottom and if it is not at that level yet, it will certainly be hurtling towards it.

O'Neill clearly does not fancy the creative midfielder and what happens this summer with regards to him will be very interesting.