Chris Gunter's 31st-minute header - his first goal since September 2009 - proved enough to see off a Rovers side who were on top for large periods.

Forest had failed to score in their first two npower Championship games and rarely threatened this evening, yet former England boss McClaren took the positives from an improved defensive display.

"It was a big night for the team tonight," he said. "We were disappointing on Saturday and we asked for a reaction.

"Our back five were magnificent and the work ethic of the team was great.

"I always said the first five games were going to be difficult for us. We are a work in progress and the squad probably won't be complete until the end of the window.

"We've not got everybody in we want to and we've got players in who need to build up fitness. What we've got to do for the first five games is grind out results and the players are doing that."

McClaren handed a first start to former Blackburn and Olympiakos striker Matt Derbyshire, while another new boy, Ishmael Miller, came off the bench late on.

"The big plus for me was Derbyshire came in and looked a threat, and Miller for 20 minutes showed what he is; a big presence, pace and power, upsets defenders, and that's something we possibly didn't have before," the Forest chief added.

"I would like to see a little more pace and creativity in the team, but we are working on that.

"I'm happy with the players I've got, their attitudes are fantastic. We just need a little bit more balance, pace in wide areas and a bit more creativity because we can keep clean sheets.

"To be successful you just need that little bit extra and that's what we're searching for."

Rovers remain without a point this season and have now failed to win any of their last 15 matches stretching back to March.

However, home boss Sean O'Driscoll was more than satisfied with the performance of his charges.

"I've been here four years and that's happened to us more times than I can remember, but I'd rather walk off the pitch playing like that than walk off the pitch playing poorly," he explained.

"We're going to have to take the result on the chin but the performance was outstanding.

"I'm frustrated and the players are going to get frustrated - I think they handled that really well and did all the things that we wanted them to do.

"They had some, for want of a better word, some b******s to play (as they did) - I thought they were outstanding.

"When you think, that's a side worth however many millions and us, there's no comparison."