Derby manager Nigel Clough believes he can look to the future with optimism after setting a new benchmark for his side.

The Rams lost 4-2 at Old Trafford last night - 4-3 on aggregate - in their Carling Cup semi-final second leg.

But despite the result Clough, who only took over on January 8 having moved from Conference side Burton Albion, saw a number positives.

After a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to QPR at the weekend, Clough now has a better idea about his players as they head into Friday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Nottingham Forest - the club he used to play for and his late father Brian so famously managed.

"It was a massive improvement on Saturday," said Clough, even taking into consideration they were 3-0 down at the interval.

"We had situations in the first half where we could have got a goal but I was very pleased with the response shown in the second half.

"What is important is how we take that into Friday and the rest of the season. We've said that is the minimum we expect from them.

"I think we hit rock bottom on Saturday. It is only going to be better, hopefully, from this point on."

Despite their good run in the Carling Cup, Derby's league form has been poor and they are currently fifth-bottom of the Coca-Cola Championship.

Clough hopes to be able to change that by bringing some consistency back.

"Talking to people who have seen them all season they have been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde team," he added.

"I want that performance (at Old Trafford) to be the norm week in, week out.

"We are at the wrong end of the league and we have to get some points on the board but we'd like to do that in tandem with an FA Cup run."

The fixture list has not been kind to Derby and they have little time to recover before facing their arch-rivals.

However, Clough hopes to use that to his advantage, as best he can, with memories of their second-half performance still fresh in the players' minds.

"If we had been on the end of a five- or six-nil it would have been a different ball game going into a local derby in the FA Cup," he added.

"We wish we had another couple of days' rest as Old Trafford can take a lot out of you physically and emotionally.

"But I'm hoping the adrenaline and encouragement from last night will carry over to Friday in front of a full house with our crowd behind us."

Another positive to come out of last night's semi-final defeat was the two goals from substitute Giles Barnes, who was injured for most of the last year and was making only his fourth appearance since last February.

"He has probably had the best of it being out," said Clough, referring to the club's Premier League relegation and subsequent drop down the Championship.

"There are a lot of players have had a rough 18 months and I hope last night will give them a little bit of belief and confidence back.

"Giles is a long way off match fitness yet. He has shown glimpses of what he can do and his pace will come back in the next month or two.

"It may be the odd substitute appearance here and there but he is going to be important for us, as the majority of the lads are."

Clough is likely to be without defender Andy Todd (hamstring) and midfielder Steven Davies (groin) for Friday's match but Kris Commons is likely to be fit despite having stitches in a gashed shin.