GARY Brazil admits Nottingham Forest have too many missed opportunities to look back on this season.
The Reds' play-off challenge faded before Brighton won at the City Ground, in the final game of the season.
But the caretaker boss felt the game was another example of a game Forest should have won, but failed to get the job done.
And Brazil admits he finds it hard not to look back at some of the side's other defeats in recent months and wonder what might have been.
"It was another game that we should have gone on and won," said Brazil. "I could point to Charlton, Millwall and today - all games we should have won, which would be an extra nine points.
"Where would we be with those nine points? We are just frustrated that we have not accumulated enough points. Let us not beat around the bush, we should be in the play-offs."
Forest took the lead through Matt Derbyshire, who netted his fifth goal in five games. But saw Stephen Ward level for the visitors, before Leonardo Ulloa netted an injury time winner that propelled the Seagulls into the play-offs.
"The result was harsh in that for good periods of the game we were very good," said Brazil.
"We got our noses in front and could have got ourselves another goal before half time - but didn't.
Second half we did not play as well. We did not keep the ball well enough.
"We did not hurt Brighton enough. We gave them the opportunity to get back in the game. The two goals we conceded were poor goals. We did not defend the cross at the end and Brighton nicked the win to get themselves in the play offs.
"Brighton were very nervous at the beginning, they were lacking energy and you could sense their anxiety. We started the game brightly and got on the front foot. We should have gone on and won it."
Forest had to reshuffle their back four as injuries and suspensions took their toll again, with Lee Peltier playing in the heart of defence alongside Danny Collins and Jamie Mackie filling in at right back.
Both players did well and Brazil said: "Jamie has played in that position before, at QPR, and he was not shy about telling us that.
"He did a very good job for us. We also knew that Lee would not let us down. On the sidelines, you are looking at the game and thinking that we were in a good place, that we could win the game.
"We did not play as well as we should do in the second half. But we gave Brighton a leg up, rather than them earning the right to win the game. That is the frustration for me."
Forest again gave a chance to Ben Osborn and Stephen McLaughlin in midfield, with both players demonstrating their potential again. While another academy product, midfielder Josh Rees, was given his debut off the bench in the second half.
"It is not their age, it is the fact that we think they might contribute. Ben and Stephen have contributed well. Josh has been one of the guys who has been doing well in the under-21s. He came to the fore as we lost more players during the week," said Brazil.
"We were also nervous about Dorus de Vries (and his fitness) on the morning of the game and we almost started with Dimi Evtimov. You give people opportunity and they have to grab it.
"We are not trying to make a mark for the academy, it is about picking the best options available to us."
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