Given Rovers’ recent cup exploits, reaching round four of the Carabao Cup represents a journey.

The previous three seasons had only brought a combined two cup victories, so being in with a shot at the quarter-final spot was progress.

Jon Dahl Tomasson continued his policy of rotation, switching all 11 players from the weekend win at Norwich City.

He did likewise at West Ham and at Bradford City, with nine made for the round one win over Hartlepool United.

This competition saw five players (Ash Phillips, Louie Annesley, Jake Batty, Adam Wharton and Jake Garrett) handed their senior debuts, and had also been a regular source of game-time for others.

The only starts this season made by Aynsley Pears, Tayo Edun and Dilan Markanday have been in this competition, and Tomasson once again signalled where his priorities lie with his team selection.

So while Rovers will now turn their attention back to the Championship, and a busy festive period that sees three games in seven days, for those trio of players in particular, their focus could well be set on the January transfer window.

Pears impressed in only his 13th appearance for the club, with 10 saves in all, and without him the scoreline could have looked even harsher on Rovers.

Edun lost out at left back to Clinton Mola from the start, but was turned to at half time with Rovers struggling to contain Forest’s threat down the right-hand side.

To his credit, Edun largely did well, but hasn’t made a Championship squad since September and has seen Callum Brittain, Ryan Hedges and Mola preferred over him at left wing-back, as well as first-choice option Harry Pickering.

Markanday had scored in the first two rounds, and had chances against West Ham. That hadn’t been enough to force Tomasson’s thinking when it comes to Championship minutes, with no game-time as yet, but he was Rovers’ liveliest attacker in the first half.

There were words of encouragement from Tomasson ahead of the game, stating he had lowly seen improvement and that he sees long-term potential in the 21-year-old.

However, the chance to show that further could come with a loan move in January and his situation means he is one that would benefit most from a temporary switch.

Those decisions aren’t likely to come before the FA Cup tie at Norwich City on January 8, another game in which Tomasson is expected to ring the changes.

Before then comes three crucial Championship fixtures.

So while one journey is over, another continues, yet they’re all part of the same vision of the club and Tomasson.

The timing of the fixture was kinder to Premier League sides than it was their EFL counterparts. It offered the top-flight sides the perfect opportunity to reintegrate their returning World Cup stars or build up match sharpness for players who haven’t featured in several weeks.

Where otherwise they might have made wholesale changes, Premier League bosses have instead gone strong, with Steve Cooper making only four alterations to his Forest side from their last competitive action, three of which were enforced.

Tomasson went the other way, swapping all 11 players from the Norwich win with his eyes firmly on Sunderland.

However, he has taken plenty of positives from the cup run, not least challenging his players against Premier League opposition to show them the standards that are required to reach the top level.

Mistakes were punished both in and out of possession, and decision-making didn’t always stand up to the test, though Tomasson feels these experiences will only be beneficial as Rovers look to the long-term.

Because of that, even had the game been scheduled at a different time, the likelihood is that Tomasson would have named a very similar side.

The stats were firmly in Forest’s favour, but while they looked rampant in attack, it rarely felt like Rovers were out of the game.

Indeed, they found a leveller just before half time, as Scott Wharton headed in a free kick from brother Adam.

For defender Scott it was otherwise a tough night, not looking the steadying influence that he often does, while Mola struggled at left back.

As against West Ham, Adam found the going tough at times, and although George Hirst showed enthusiasm in attack, little came off for him.

In the way that Rovers have played this season, it is difficult to see how a genuine No.9 fits into Tomasson’s thinking.

Sam Gallagher has been adaptable to play off the right, and his influence has seen Rovers win 11 of the 13 games he’s started, but only two of the 10 he hasn’t.  

Eight players had started the three previous league cup ties, but two, Joe Rankin-Costello and Bradley Dack, were unused substitutes against Forest, with both hoping their displays at Norwich, and goal against Preston North End in Dack’s case, will earn them a starting spot at Sunderland.

With 20 players in the matchday squad on Wednesday night, and a further six either not selected or injured, it shows that numbers are no issue to Tomasson.

Now out of the Carabao Cup, he must find a way to best utilise the squad.

The performance of Rankin-Costello was a positive sign that the unity is strong and players remain motivated despite their lack of game-time.

If Tomasson’s mind is on strengthening in January, he is also thinking of those short of minutes, and next month’s window could become a useful option for members of his squad.

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