With 15 games to go, Nottingham Forest sit just a point from the automatic promotion spots. It may be time to take them seriously as a promotion contender.
Nottingham Forest Are Well and Truly in the Automatic Promotion Chase
Points Against the Top Six
Forest’s record against those in the top six is bettered by no-one else in the Championship.
Yes, there are 17 other teams in the league to consider; but a team’s success, especially at the top-end of the table, is often calculated by their record against their promotion rivals.
Victories are important to any side, correct; but beating your top-six rivals is a fundamental part of creating a promotion campaign and Sabri Lamouchi’s men have a stellar record against their promotion rivals.
The Reds have dropped points in just three matches, winning four, drawing twice and losing once.
Record v top six: WBA (H, 1-2 L), Leeds (A, 1-1 D), Fulham (A, 1-2 W), Preston (H, 1-1 D), Brentford (H, 1-0 W), Brentford (A, 0-1 W), Leeds (H, 2-0 W).
Aside from an early-season loss at home to West Brom, Forest are unbeaten against their promotion rivals.
Lamouchi’s side are yet to complete their round of fixtures against the top six; they head to West Brom on Saturday and in April they host Fulham prior to a trip to Lancashire to take on Preston.
Opposition Record
In comparison, none of Forest’s promotion rivals are able to boast as good a record against the top-six.
Responding to Forest’s tally of 14 points, West Brom, Leeds and Preston have all taken nine points; Fulham and Brentford have taken four points respectively.
Manager of the Month Award
On the tip of Lamouchi’s tongue when he was asked about his nomination for the January Manager of the Month award was the supposed curse.
It has occurred on a, fairly, regular basis that whoever has received the accolade has gone on to lose the next match. Of the last five winners, only Lamouchi has managed to win the next game.
Jonathan Woodgate won the award for December but drew 2-2 with Derby; Leeds’ Marcelo Bielsa was crowned as the winner for November but was unable to beat Cardiff City the day after.
Danny Crowley was named the winner for October, he also lost the following day – a 3-1 defeat at Preston. Lamouchi received the award for the first time this season in September but could not avoid losing to Wigan shortly after the international break.
And, finally, Swansea City’s Steve Cooper was unable to win at home to Forest shortly after he received the award for performances in August.
So maybe, just maybe, it’s time for Forest fans to believe – perhaps this year will be their year.
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