McGugan has already scored more this season than his four last year

Nottingham Forest midfielder Chris Cohen believes the Reds would be struggling this season if it was not for the goals scored by Lewis McGugan.

McGugan is the club's surprise leading scorer with six goals from midfield, despite only starting seven games.

Cohen told BBC Radio Nottingham: "Lewis has made himself more versatile this season and has been fantastic so far.

"If it wasn't for his goals at the moment we'd be in a lot of trouble so more of us need to contribute."

McGugan scored the only goal in the 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on Tuesday with a powerful free-kick to extend the club's unbeaten home run in the league to 25 matches.

Cohen added: "You need your players who can create something out of that nothing to be doing that, and Lewis has been fantastic."

Blackpool were the last side to win at the City Ground in the league in September last year, but Cohen admitted he could not put his finger on why Forest have been so strong at home while winning just once on their travels since beating West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on 8 January.

"It's weird," he said. "We're playing the same teams at home and we feel like we're going to beat them, and then away from home we don't seem to be playing as well as we should.

"I don't know what it is. We're confident at home and hopefully it will go on for a long time to come."

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