These are heady days for Nottingham Forest. The last time they won this many consecutive games in the higher league were the champions of Europe.
There is a growing belief that this current run of results will get them back there, boosted further by a 3-0 win against Wolves on Monday Night Football – their sixth successive Premier League victory.
They do it their way, averaging two points per game despite having less possession than any other team in the Premier League. Or should it be because they have less possession than any other team in the Premier League? Masters of the counterattack.
Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood scored the first two goals at Molineux on the break. They had only 39.5 percent possession and fewer shots.
Taking all of the above into account, can Nottingham Forest do what few predicted at the start of the season and bring the Champions League and European football back to the City Ground? Here's what some of the key voices have to say…
Gibbs-White: We're going game by game – but the CL would be amazing
Nottingham Forest archer Morgan Gibbs-White that Sky Sports:
“It would be absolutely amazing. First of all, just for the fans. There would be a few who could experience it twice, so to be able to give them that opportunity is what we really want to do as a club.
“We believe in it, but we cannot cross.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Nottingham Forest's win against Wolves in the Premier League.
“We return every training session, every opponent as it comes. There is a lot of faith in the group and the fans.
“There are high expectations from the fans as well and that's what drives us. We keep going game by game and see where it takes us.
“Tonight (against Wolves) was tough. When we had our chances we took them and that's been the difference with us this season – we've been clinical when we needed to be. We're good at managing games now so credit to the lads. We deserved it in the position we're in.”
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Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White talks his brilliant form and breaking into Thomas Tuchel's England squad this March
Nuno will not check the table until the end of the season
Nottingham Forest the manager Nuno Espirito Santo remained focused on the upcoming game against Luton in the FA Cup when asked about a potential title race.
“We're playing Luton in the FA Cup at the City Ground, which is massive for us. It's a good chance for us. I'm sorry I'm not answering your direct question, but this is the reality.
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Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo says his side have not achieved anything yet, and admits they will remain humble despite their impressive Premier League season so far
“We have to prepare well. The FA Cup is important, it's a good chance for us. As I said, in terms of the squad, to give minutes to everyone, because it's going to be a very, very long season.”
When asked when he could look at the league table, Nuno replied: “I don't know, maybe at the end of the season. I'll probably look.”
Carragher: Forest have a great chance for the Champions League
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher he Monday Night Football:
“If they beat Liverpool (in the next Premier League game) then they are in the title race and they are the only team to beat Liverpool.
“And if the Champions League goes to the top five positions, they have a great chance.
“As the Premier League, we need Nottingham Forest to get into the top five if it's going to be Champions League football.
“It's the same with Aston Villa, which returned to the Premier League a few years ago for only a few seasons. The forest is the same. It gives hope to many struggling clubs.
“If they can do that, it sends a message to the whole Premier League and to the fans that there is hope when sometimes that's all you've got.”
What do the statistics say?
Nottingham Forest continue to make and break records in their current winning streak:
- Nottingham Forest have won six consecutive Premier League games, the longest winning streak (across all teams) in the competition this season.
- It is the first time Forest have won six consecutive top-flight matches since then May-September 1979 (seven in a row), doing so in one season for the first time since 1966-67 (two six-game winning streaks)
- Nottingham Forest is third in the Premier League, behind Arsenal only on goal difference (level with 40 points each). Of the 70 teams that have taken 40+ points from their first 20 games of the Premier League campaign (before 2024-25), only four failed to finish in the top four at the end of the season.
- Nottingham Forest retained nine clean leaves in the Premier League this season, more than any other party. They have notched up four consecutive relegations from the top flight for the first time since March 1992 (a run of five).
- Nuno Espirito Santo has been in charge since the first game since Nottingham Forest (23 Dec 2023) only Erling Haaland (24) and Alexander Isak (23) have scored more goals without penalties in the Premier League than Chris Wood (21).
- Nottingham Forest have scored first in 16 of 20 Premier League games this seasonmore than any other team (Arsenal and Fulham 13 games each).