Billy Davies believes Nottingham Forest overcame a test of their mental strength in beating Sheffield Wednesday at The City Ground.

Two goals from Dexter Blackstock - a first half penalty and a late winner - earned The Reds their seventh successive home victory.

And afterwards Davies admitted: "It was a big psychological test for us coming a week after we had lost our unbeaten record to our biggest rivals.

"But it was a test I believe we passed with flying colours.

"I was just pleased that we showed the character to win what was a very difficult game against a team who had won four out of their last five matches and were clearly working very hard for a new manager.

"It was important for us to dig in and show the mettle we needed to come off the pitch with three points."

Blackstock captured the headlines with his brace of goals but Davies revealed he was about to take the striker just before he bagged his second goal.

"Yes, we were going to make a substitution before he scored," he said. "Sometimes it works out for you and sometimes it doesn't - but it did today."

Wednesday boss Alan Irvine was upset his skipper Darren Purse was adjudged to have handled in the area, which gave Blackstock the opportunity to fire Forest in front from the spot.

Davies added: "As for the penalty, it was a soft one and if I was Alan I would have been very disappointed by it."