Cash-strapped McClaren is now looking for loans

While Nigel Adkins celebrates a year in charge of Southampton today with his team in second place, Steve McClaren has endured a difficult first three months at Nottingham Forest. Financial restraints meant that he was unable to bring in many of his targets during the transfer window and his battle with the board for reinforcements will continue, with loans now the priority.

"It has been a frustrating process, negotiating for players, losing out on players and not getting the people that we wanted," he said after Saturday's 3-2 defeat at St Mary's. "We have a nucleus, but you need 30-plus players to compete at the top of the Championship.

"Financial fair play is coming in next year so we need to look at things and work on a tighter budget. This is what I did at Middlesbrough and Twente, build a club on good foundations."

Brighton manager Gus Poyet described life as "great" after the Seagulls continued their strong start to the season, winning 1-0 at Bristol City to maintain their position at the top of the Championship – and, having seen off Sunderland, they are looking forward to the visit of Liverpool to the Amex Stadium next week in the Carling Cup.

Poyet said: "I'm not sure how good we are, but I do know that we are difficult to break down and keep going for 95 minutes if necessary. It's a great time for everyone involved in Brighton. We even got a good Carling Cup draw so we are really on a roll. We've come a long way in two years."

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray said after the 2-0 win at Burnley which lifted his team up to third: "I think we've based our season so far on good performances and good football."

West Ham are up to fourth and the manager, Sam Allardyce, hailed striker Carlton Cole after he scored in the 4-3 defeat of Portsmouth. Allardyce said: "All I am seeing is a very, very good player who seems to be enjoying his time with us after a big shock, after the [transfer] deadline when Galatasaray came in with an audacious bid."