Tony Pulis admits Sheffield Wednesday 'just lack what's needed to win games' after 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest

Pulis refused to criticise his players, praising their effort, but had to accept they were not good enough to overcome another struggling big club.

“You can squeeze and squeeze but if the pips aren't there...” he said.

Pulis's only real complaint was about the tackle on Tom Lees which led to Lewis Grabban's goal, complaining “He's got stud marks above his knee” but all disallowing the goal would have done was make the margin of defeat smaller, and probably less realistic.

Pulis reiterated he desperately needs signings in January but there are still plenty of points to play for before then, and he did not inspire hope he will get the funds he clearly needs.

“I can't fault the players for their effort, especially in the first half,” said Pulis, whose frustration was audible throughout the game. “I thought we did enough in the first half to warrant being on level terms if anything but second half I thought Forest were better than us, I thought we looked tired. The changes we made didn't make an impression at all but they had a go.

“We just lack what's needed to win games.

“The early goal (scored by Yuri Ribeiro after four minutes) was a bad goal. I don't know what the right-back (Moses Odubajo)'s doing going across the pitch when he's got two centre-halves he can pass the player onto but he was taken out of the slot and the lad finishes. I thought we responded really well and had a brilliant chance on the break but we never created enough with the possession we had.

“Second half was a different game, we looked a bit tired.”

Asked if he would get the money he needed to revitalise the squad, Pulis replied: “We'll see. He's spent a hell of a lot of money on this football club over the past five years and I understand his frustrations.

“You can only do your best and I think they're doing their best.

“The players are looking for one or two players to come in and help out because it's going to be a long season.”

Of the challenge on Lees by Lewis Grabban, who went on to score an 87th-minute goal from it, Pulis said: “I think people watching will be asking how he didn't give a free-kick.

“That could have been a leg-breaker.”

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