Although his Bristol City side can still mathematically reach the play-offs, Gary Johnson is now looking towards next season following the 3-2 loss at Nottingham Forest.
The Robins had twice taken the lead through goals from Ivan Sproule and Dele Adebola, but they were reduced to 10 men as Jamie McAllister was dismissed before Forest's revival was capped by Dexter Blackstock's stoppage-time winner.
Johnson said: "Of course we want to win the next game, and we will try to finish strong but these players are now looking to compete to get into my squad for next season."
He added: "The end to the match has typified our season, we have gone from a winning position to a losing position. Mistakes have cost us, there was three mistakes at the end, two from our players and one from the referee.
"The turning point was the sending off but we should have defended the free-kick. And it means we are all going home disappointed.
"It was a blood and thunder game but I don't know whether the referee was trying to kill the game. Credit to the home supporters they won their side a lot of free-kicks but you expect that."
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