REECE Burke kept his place in the Wanderers line-up at Forest to give them an “extra dimension,” explained Phil Parkinson.

The on-loan West Ham defender stayed in the team despite David Wheater’s return from suspension in what was a tactical decision explained by the manager after the final whistle.

“It was a tough call, I thought the way that Forest play they have more mobile, technical players, rather than a direct type of team. Obviously (Daryl) Murphy isn’t like that but I thought it suited Reece and that his ability to step in with the ball, which gives us an extra dimension, would add something to us.

“Reece played well, Wheats is a big player for us, but sometimes it’s horses for courses.”

Some of the absentees on the substitute’s bench also got tongues wagging before and after the final whistle at Forest.

Adam Le Fondre was not named on the bench, while Filipe Morais, Jem Karacan and Dorian Dervite did not travel with the team to the East Midlands.

Parkinson explained his choice of substitutes after the 3-2 defeat at the City Ground.

“I wanted Wheater on the bench, so I lost Derik’s versatility as a result,” he said. “I knew Darren Pratley had a problem with his knee so I had to make sure the area was covered with Josh Cullen.

“Obviously Reece Burke covers right-back, Andy Taylor covers left-back, Craig Noone and Adam Armstrong had done great off the bench in the last couple of weeks and so has Aaron Wilbraham. Adam can also play up front in the same sort of role as Alfie (Le Fondre).

“Alfie, for the first time since he has been available, hasn’t made the squad. But we’ve got to make decisions.

“I made one with Burke and Wheater, I’ll continue to make them and hope they are the right ones.

“All the scenarios you think about and it’s about trying to get the balance right. There were players who didn’t make the travelling party – Morais, Karacan, Dervite – who didn’t come down. The lads on the bench are always disappointed but there are some who didn’t even get on the coach.

“I keep stressing to the lads coming into the Christmas period that everyone is going to be required.”

Parkinson maintains there was a touch of controversy about the free kick which led to the first Forest goal on Saturday afternoon - a point later backed up by referee Darren England, who apologised after the final whistle.

“The first goal should never have stood, there’s a free kick right in front of us but we still should have dealt with it better.

“We controlled the game for long periods. Start of the second half we were excellent and had two gilt-edged chances to go ahead. It was probably as good as we have played for 60 minutes.”