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Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock has warned against rising expectations, insisting his Bluebirds side are a long way from the finished article.

Warnock's men climbed out of the Championship bottom three with a 2-1 win away at Nottingham Forest.

The result made it seven points from Warnock's three games in charge, but he talked down a promotion push.

"I was asked about promotion, but I said 'let's get out the bottom three first'," Warnock said.

"We do get carried away. We are nowhere near the finished article, but we've got a genuine bunch of players and the fans are getting behind us.

"We have worked hard for the results. To get seven points from three games is a tribute to the whole staff really. We've worked hard and the lads have taken it on board, it's not a fluke."

Goals from Aron Gunnarsson and Joe Ralls put the visitors in charge against 10-man Forest, who had Thomas Lam sent off, but there was late drama when Gunnarsson was judged to have fouled Henri Lansbury who converted from the spot.

"The referee [Andy Woolmer] is a good one, but I think it was a soft penalty. I think he just got a bit bored and wanted to make it a bit more exciting for the last few minutes," Warnock continued.

"It was the first time I'd seen them away from home and I asked for a performance. I'm so disappointed not to have a clean sheet."

Junior Hoilett was taken off with an injury which is not thought to be serious, but striker Ricky Lambert came off in the first half after receiving a bad cut to his shin.

Warnock said he feared Lambert might be out for a while, but was awaiting further tests on the 34-year-old former England international.

"It looked horrific. I didn't want the lads to look at it at half-time," the Bluebirds boss said.