Friday’s trip to Luton Town is the kind of challenge Nottingham Forest must meet head-on in order to be “an achieving team”, according to boss Steve Cooper.
The Reds make the trip to Kenilworth Road on Friday in terrific form, having recorded five straight wins and gone 10 unbeaten in the Championship. They are up to fourth in the table, just six points below second-placed Bournemouth ahead of the lunchtime showdown.
But they will come up against a Hatters side with top-six ambitions of their own. Nathan Jones’ men are a place and two points below Forest, although have played two games more.
Read more: Forest boss has his say on 'unpredictable' Championship promotion race
Read more: Forest players sent clear message as they chase promotion dream
Spence decision
Former Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock has explained why he decided to loan Djed Spence out to Nottingham Forest last summer.
The full-back arrived at the City Ground on a season-long loan from the Riverside on deadline day last year. He has gone on to become a key player in Steve Cooper’s side as they aim to make it back to the Premier League, either automatically or via the play-offs.
His performances have led to speculation that Premier League clubs are looking at him ahead of the summer window. As many as 14 clubs are said to be keeping an eye on the 21-year-old.
Speaking about the decision last summer, Warnock outlined the friction between himself and Spence. He also said the emergence of full-back Isaiah Jones as one of the main reasons for the move.
Taylor's future
On-loan Nottingham Forest striker Lyle Taylor says he is “not worried” about any uncertainty over his future ahead of the summer transfer window.
The front man is spending the second half of this season at Championship rivals Birmingham City, having made the move in January. And he has been in good form for Lee Bowyer’s side, bagging four goals in nine appearances.
The Reds, meanwhile, strengthened their attacking arsenal in the winter window, bringing in Keinan Davis on loan from Aston Villa and signing Sam Surridge on a permanent deal. They also have veteran forward Lewis Grabban, who has recently returned from injury - although his contract is due to run out at the end of the campaign.
Taylor’s Forest deal will expire in 2023. But there is a question mark over what will happen to him in the summer, with his parent club likely to make changes to their squad and Bowyer having expressed his admiration for the 32-year-old.
Promotion predictions
A nine-point week has put Nottingham Forest right in the thick of the promotion race as the end of the season fast approaches.
Seeing off Blackpool, Coventry City and Birmingham City after returning from the international break made it five league wins in a row for the Reds. They are also unbeaten in 10 in the Championship ahead of Friday’s trip to Luton Town.
Huddersfield Town’s victory over the Hatters on Monday pushed Forest down a place, into fourth. But Steve Cooper’s side are just two points adrift of the Terriers, with two games in hand.
According to the data experts at FiveThirtyEight, the chances of Cooper’s men achieving promotion has increased on the back of their last three results. However, they are predicting a third-placed finish, behind Fulham and the Cherries.
