Defeat at Newcastle on Monday night leaves automatic promotion as a fast-fading prospect but Forest must dust themselves down to secure the points needed for a top four finish and home advantage in the second leg of the play-offs.
They currently hold an eight-point gap over Cardiff in fourth place but that will be reduced whatever the outcome of Tuesday night's game in hand for the Bluebirds as they play sixth-placed Leicester City.
Billy Davies, linked with summer moves for Chris Killen and Darren Pratley by Tuesday's press, remained in upbeat mood after seeing his side more than match top-flight bound Newcastle.
"We've got a challenge for second place that is very much still on the go," he said after the defeat on Tyneside.