Promotion contenders? You better believe it. Nottingham Forest are the ones to watch in the run-in.
If there was any concern the Reds might return from the international break not quite at the races, they well and truly put that to bed at Bloomfield Road as they triumphed 4-1. In the first half, particularly, they were tremendous.
And if the race for the top-six does come down to goal difference, Steve Cooper's side gave their hopes another shot in the arm against Blackpool. They were ruthless. Brennan Johnson, especially, was superb.
The youngster won rave reviews while on duty with Wales. It’s been obvious he’s a star in the making for some time, of course, and he continues to prove quite what a precocious talent he is.
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Hanging on to him in the January transfer window, amid what was a club record offer from Brentford, is looking more and more like a crucial decision. He can be a difference-maker in the battle for the play-offs.
Johnson was clinical with his finishing in the lunchtime kick-off. His quick-fire brace put Forest in command at half-time, building on Philip Zinckernagel's opener.
And they added another in the second half, through substitute Sam Surridge. It was an emphatic final scoreline, even with the Seasiders pulling back a consolation effort at the death.
Nine games left now. Forest have the bit between their teeth. And they also have some big players coming back from injury.
Lewis Grabban and Scott McKenna both made their comebacks on the coast. Plenty of their rivals will be concerned about the Reds breathing heavily down their necks.
