The Middlesbrough manager received consoling words from opposite number Billy Davies after Nottingham Forest's injury-time equaliser deprived the struggling Teessiders of three vital points.
"The team were fantastic, a great work-ethic to more than match a team with aspirations of getting out of this division," Mowbray told BBC Tees.
"Teams only play as well as you allow them to play.
"We didn't allow them to play their open passing game, they've got talented individuals and we nullified them."