🎥 Interview: Pearson reacts to Carabao Cup exit

Two goals on his first start for Saikou Janneh cut out Jamille Matt's opener and had the Robins on course for a win at the Fully Charged New Lawn.

However, Regan Hendry forced penalties with a goal inside the 96th minute of the match.

Max O'Leary kept out Forest Green's first spot-kick but the shootout went to sudden death and Cameron Pring would be the unfortunate player to see his decisive penalty saved as the hosts won 6-5 on penalties.

For Pearson, this was a second game in a row his side had conceded the latest of goals to lose their winning position, after the 1-1 draw against Blackpool on Saturday.

🎥 Watch: Nigel Pearson reflects on cup exit

Pearson told Robins TV: "It is frustrating because it's a game we should have won and we continue to make silly errors in terms of running the clock down. It's frustrating because after the two game so far we could be looking at two wins. It's a draw and a defeat.

"The players had an opportunity to show what they're about and we didn't really do the job we should've done. It would have been good to send our fans home with a win, so yes [it is] frustration.

"It was about decision-making. At the weekend we made some poor contact on the ball, some poor decisions where we showed our opponents and tonight we could have managed it better.

"There were one or too really good performances, some promising performances and for Han-Noah Massengo to complete 90 minutes was good. It's just frustrating we were in a winning position and we end up losing on penalties. It's (penalties) always a lottery so hard lessons for people to learn."

Joe Williams had to be substituted off in the first half with a tight thigh. Pearson confirmed he has full power but will continue to be looked at. In other news, Antoine Semenyo trained with the squad on Monday, while Callum O’Dowda could be available for Saturday’s trip to Middlesbrough as he recovers well from his knock sustained against Blackpool.

City v Middlesbrough tickets available here

The match will be streamed live to international subscribers, while audio passes are available for fans inside the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man via Robins TV.

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