"Today there was a lack of people doing the basic things well and doing their jobs," he told the official Derby County website after a 2-0 home defeat by QPR saw the Rams fall below Forest in the table.
"We can encourage, we can point them in the right direction, and we will be pointing out the basic things not done right today."
Clough added: "There are a few frightened players in the dressing room, which is a result of the last 18 months, and they have got to get it out of the system somehow."