'The time for dreaming is over'

Nottingham Forest were in the Premier League for its inaugural season and then only managed another four in the 1990s. After being promoted in 2022 it is very easy to say 'the last time Forest did x was in 1996'.

Our best league finish, our top goal scorer, back-to-back wins… it all sounds impressive without context. The context is almost a quarter of a century in the wilderness.

I have said it before but the Reds really are playing catch-up this season. We have moved beyond Premier League records now - Monday night's 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers was the first time we have seen six consecutive victories in the top flight since 1966-67 and the first time we have seen four consecutive clean sheets in the top flight since March 1992.

On the 50th anniversary of Brian Clough's arrival at the City Ground, this Forest side are doing things even Old Big 'Ead didn't achieve. What is significant now is that emulating his real achievements remains a fairytale - but Leicester City's title-winning season saw the Foxes with the same number of points after 20 games. Who is to say that is beyond us now?

Nobody is getting carried away with themselves - yet - but only four Premier League sides have reached 40 points at this stage of the season and not finished in the top four. On average, 26 points from the remaining 18 games would be enough for a top five finish. And crucially, while not confirmed, it is possible that England gains a fifth Champions League spot this season.

Nuno Espirito Santo consistently says "we've achieved nothing yet," and he very much knows the reality of football. However, those 40 points mean two things - one, that we're very much clear of relegation. And two, the records Forest keep breaking are very much becoming meaningful now. The time for dreaming is over, the rest of the season is there for the taking.

Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club