Burns: Don't write off Forest just yet

EVERYONE will start to criticise Forest now they have lost three of their last four games in the Championship.

They will write them off as automatic promotion contenders – that's football.

One minute you are the best thing since sliced bread, and the Reds were with their long unbeaten run, the next you're the worst team in the world, with no chance of success.

But I'm not going to attack them, no. I think the league is wide open, just look at Newcastle's last two results. After thumping Cardiff, they have lost to Derby and drawn against Swansea.

I think Forest have a great chance of winning promotion into the promised land of the Premier League at the end of the season, and I didn't think I'd be saying that in mid-February after the way they struggled to stay in the Championship last season.

They can finish in the top two, without a doubt. They have proven their ability to sustain an unbeaten run, they can do it again. Right now, they are just going through a sticky spell, that's all.

And even if they finish in the play-offs, I still maintain that would represent a hugely successful season.

They are still only five points behind Newcastle, the Championship leaders. Five points! That's nothing.

For me, the important gap is between Forest and Leicester, who occupy the last play-off spot in sixth. And the Reds are nine points ahead of them.

Make no mistake, that can be clawed back, just as easily as the five points Forest trail Newcastle.

But it's going to take a disastrous run for Forest to drop out of the top-six by the end of the season. They still have a lot of hard games left, against many of their promotion rivals, but they will be confident of picking up precious points in all of those games, even now, after defeats at Derby, Coventry and now Doncaster.

Okay, so their away form is a concern. I'm sure Billy Davies is wondering why they have lost their last three on the road, after such a long unbeaten run. But I'm sure they'll sort it out.

The transfer window hasn't helped their cause. While nearly all of the teams they are competing with strengthened with a few signings, Forest are actually weaker!

They lost Nicky Shorey, who has joined Fulham on loan until the end of the season, and, amazingly, failed to sign a single player, just like last year.

I know I keep banging on about it, but they do need a left back, desperately.

As well as not signing anyone, they have also managed to unsettle Raddy Majewski. If it's because he can't speak English properly, I'm sure I could teach him a few words!

Joking aside, I'd heard he was all ready to sign a permanent deal, so I thought it would be straightforward. But then, whenever an agent is involved, it is anything but straightforward.

Like every other player on the planet, Majewski has his value. I still remember some of his goals this season, the one at West Brom sticks in my memory. That was a stunning strike, a candidate for goal of the season.

But for all of that, I don't think he has been a massive success, not a player Forest should sign at any cost. He needs to do more than score stunning goals.

He needs to contribute a lot more in games, for 90 minutes.

If he can do that for the rest of the season, it will certainly help Forest achieve promotion.

And then they can sort his future out, hopefully as they are planning for the Premier League.