Automatic now has to be Forest's goal

IT is not a pipe dream, it is a realistic aim.

Admittedly, it would be a mighty ask to achieve it but why not go for second spot and automatic promotion?

For Nottingham Forest, they are in a superb run of form. They are close to equalling a record of seven straight wins and victory over Hull City on Saturday made it 18 points from a possible 18.

I said when Billy Davies took charge at the City Ground for a second time that three wins on the spin and it would all look different.

Well six on the bounce has catapulted them into fifth and by beating second-placed Hull at the weekend, they have closed the gap to eight points with eight games to play.

The fact is, they are now in the play-offs. That position is Forest's to lose.

And should they just start thinking about holding onto one of those four spots, it could be the start of a slippery slope.

The players and manager will continue to talk about one game at a time, chalking them off. That is the line they have to follow.

But Forest now have to look at eating into that gap between them and Hull.

They are in solid form, they have a strong squad and everyone is playing a pivotal part, as proved with Saturday's goalscorers – striker Darius Henderson and substitute Lewis McGugan.

If you get into the play-offs, it gives you a one-in-four chance. Seal second and you are in the Premier League next season.

It is not about how they do it, it does not have to be attractive. It has to be effective and on Saturday, they showed real battling qualities to go there, to a high-flying club, battle back from behind and seal a crucial three points.

Squad players are keeping those in the first team on their toes and you look at how they have hunted down Leicester and now gone above them. It can be done.

You know Davies will have that real fire in his belly to achieve such a feat, although he will never say it in public.

The Reds have put themselves in a position to launch an assault on the automatic promotion places and when the action resumes after the international break, they can really lay down a marker against promotion-rivals Brighton.

But the reason they are in with a shout, albeit an outside one, is because of the weekend win although when George Boyd scored, you thought here we go.

His move to Forest from Peterborough collapsed on transfer deadline day in January because of the eyesight debacle and he rightly poked fun at the travelling Reds fans by mocking his eyes in his celebration.

it was obvious, following a loan move to Hull, there is no issue with what he can see.

But the Reds had the last laugh by fighting back and showing a spirit to go with the quality they have.

There is a real belief in the camp, a togetherness. You can see that. What Davies has brought to the table is a stubbornness and a way of getting things done.

It doesn't have to be pretty, it just has to get the job done and Forest can be hard to break down but also devastating going forward.

In recent weeks, the Reds have found their flow. They look unstoppable.

And that is why now is not the time to start thinking the play-offs are an achievement.

While automatic is on the radar, they have to go for it, to hunt it down.

It is a long shot, but the carrot is being dangled.

Now it is up to the players to use it as the perfect motivation to continue this stunning run.