NOTTINGHAM Forest skipper James Perch eyes tonight's fixture against Ipswich Town at Portman Road (kick-off 7.45pm) as one his side can win.

Elvin King

NOTTINGHAM Forest skipper James Perch eyes tonight's fixture against Ipswich Town at Portman Road (kick-off 7.45pm) as one his side can win.

The midlanders, now managed by Billy Davies, had their hopes of moving further away from the bottom three dashed with a defeat at Birmingham on Saturday.

Forest have only won once in their last six games, but Perch is optimistic about the trip to the troubled Blues.

He said: “People will see Birmingham's win 2-0 and think that was always going to happen.

“But our fans and their fans know we played well and probably deserved something.

“We have to put it to bed. We are a very young side and these games are good experience for the next away game.

“And it is a good thing we have Ipswich for us to bounce back.

“We are still out of the relegation positions, and have to keep plugging away. When Ipswich come out, we have to be ready to go.”

Perch insists he will not ditch his tough-tackling style as he walks a disciplinary tightrope.

One more yellow card will see him hit with an automatic two-game ban. Ipswich have Gareth McAuley and Tommy Miller one more booking away from a one-match ban.

Davies' young squad is already heavily depleted as they battle against the drop from the Championship.

Perch, 23, vowed: “I have to think about it but my game is tackling and heading and obviously I get a few wrong otherwise I would not be on nine bookings.

“But I will play my normal game and if I get booked for kicking somebody when they are bearing down on goal, so be it.

“If I change I will not be the same player, I will be 50% of the player I am so if I get booked again it is one of those things and I just have to get on with it.”

Perch has already served a one-match ban for five cautions and received his ninth of the season on Saturday.

Striker Robert Earnshaw is expected to miss out with hamstring trouble, while Julian Bennett, Paul Anderson, Guy Moussi and Arron Davies will also be absent. Emile Sinclair - recalled for a loan with Macclesfield - could be included.

Town drew 1-1 at the City Ground earlier in the season when Forest were bottom of the table with Miller equalising from the penalty spot.