They couldn’t, could they? Seven games to go. A six-point gap to Bournemouth, with the Cherries still to play.
Not only is the race for the play-offs pretty lively, Nottingham Forest have suddenly made the fight for second place interesting. A perfect week, with three wins from three, has given the Championship table a very healthy shine.
The priority remains to keep the unbeaten run going. There would be no point having got this far only to suffer a horrible collapse and fall out of the top-six completely. Complacency is a friend to nobody at this stage of the season.
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But if the Reds keep up this form, then who knows. If anyone is going to give Bournemouth a run for their money, Steve Cooper’s side look like being the ones to do it at the moment.
A fabulous result at Blackpool. An important victory over Coventry City in midweek. And a comfortable win over Birmingham City. What a week. Any worries the players might be a little slow to get going after the international break have been well and truly dispelled.
Forest didn’t even hit anywhere near top level against the Blues. They still have plenty in reserve.
But they did what they needed to do. Goals from the brilliant Keinan Davis and the excellent Scott McKenna toppled Lee Bowyer’s side.
That’s five Championship wins on the spin now. Ten games unbeaten. Belief is flowing through the club.
Cooper did his best to try to define what having momentum means, when speaking pre-match. Whatever it is, whatever it counts for, the Reds have got it at the minute.
And you can bet they will keep chasing down those above them until the end. The next few weeks, and next Friday’s trip to Luton Town in particular, look very tasty indeed.
