BLACKBURN Rovers boss Gary Bowyer hailed a ‘massive team effort’ after his side ended Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten start to the season at the City Ground.

Bowyer took the decision to leave out a striker in Rudy Gestede and pack the midfield to try and stifle Forest’s goal scoring threat, but the visitors found themselves 1-0 down at the break after Matty Fryatt’s fortunate strike.

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But Rovers responded brilliantly, and a spell of three goals in 11 second half minutes turned the game in their favour.

The three goals arrived after Gestede had been introduced just after the hour mark and Rovers reverted to a 4-4-2, but Bowyer didn’t think that was necessarily the turning point.

“I think people will say that because we scored,” he said.

“But I thought there wasn’t much in it in the first half anyway, it’s a massive team effort. It would be wrong of me to single anybody out individually, it was just a massive team effort from everybody at the end of a very, very tough week.”

Ryan Tunnicliffe came in for Gestede, with Corry Evans and Lee Williamson patrolling at the base of the midfield.

“You’re coming away to Nottingham Forest who haven’t been beaten here all season and there wasn’t much in the game,” Bowyer added. “You look at the manner of the goal, it ricochets back off the post and lands at Fryatt’s feet.

“I think we were a little bit disappointed to go in 1-0 down at half time, but the response from them was magnificent.”

The victory was Rovers’ second in a week and sees them eighth, just one point of the play-offs, and Bowyer is keen to build on that momentum when Reading visit Ewood Park next Saturday.

“Of course it’s important (to go on a run) if you want to do anything,” he said. “If you look at the Championship there are probably 15 teams that can break into the top six and beyond.

“Momentum is everything but it’s not just about starting quick, it’s about starting quick and finishing strong.”