Blackstock hopes Forest can fuel confidence levels against QPR

WHEN he swapped the glamorous surrounds of QPR – then regarded as being one of the richest clubs in the country – for a relegation dogfight with Nottingham Forest, there were more than a few eyebrows raised.

Not least those of Hoops manager Paulo Sousa, who was eventually sacked for revealing that Dexter Blackstock's loan move to the City Ground was sanctioned without his knowledge.

But, ten months down the line, the striker's judgment looks to have been profoundly astute.

While the expected revolution under the ownership of super-rich trio Fabio Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone and steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal has never materialised at Loftus Road, the transformation at Forest has been nothing short of remarkable.

And, when the two sides clash at the City Ground tonight, striker Blackstock will be playing for a club with genuine aspirations.

"I am happy to be at Forest. It has worked out well for me at the moment, there is no question of that," he said.

"I am looking forward to every game at the moment because we are on such a great run.

"But yes, it is a game against my former club and I still know a few of the people there, so it would be nice to get one over on them.

"However, this is still only about three points, it is not about proving a point or anything. We would want to be beating whoever we were up against."

Blackstock says he was always convinced he was making the right move when he signed for Forest permanently in the summer.

But he admits it was not until the season was well underway that he began to feel they were capable of winning promotion.

"At the start, we did not think that we could challenge," said Blackstock. "But, as the season progressed, you quickly realised how good a team we have here.

"When we played teams that were supposed to be challenging and dominated the games, the belief only grew.

"It showed what we are capable of. I believe that, if we are on our game, we can beat anyone in the Championship. I have no doubt about that.

"The West Brom and Newcastle games were massive, but to go to West Brom recently and dominate, live on television, was arguably the biggest of the two.

"That showed what we can do, it was massive for us.

"Nothing changed within the dressing room after that, because we had always been confident in our ability.

"It was just a great stage on which to do it and show everyone else."

On the pitch, Blackstock is an energetic, urgent, physical figure.

Off it, when asked what has made Forest a success, he gets his message across in a quietly spoken, considered manner.

"Team spirit here is second to none. It is a very young squad and everyone gets on," he said.

"That helps. But we also have good players here, people with good ability and good pace throughout the whole side.

"We have a solid defence, an attack that will always nick goals and a balanced midfield to go with it.

"Everything is going for us at the minute. But that is what it is about – everyone pulling together.

"And it is working for us. We all work together as a team.

"We are all ambitious as players, as individuals, but we know that the best way to achieve our ambitions is to pull together as a team.

"It has been a great 12 months for everyone at the club.

"When you get to this stage in the season, the league table tells you a story and we are sitting second in the league for a reason."

Blackstock admits one of the key factors in his move to Forest was the influence of Billy Davies and the ambitions he outlined back in March, when the striker first arrived on loan.

"The manager has to take a lot of credit for how the club has turned around," he said.

"When he came in a year ago, it was nothing like it is now.

"Even though I wasn't here at the start, you can see that things have changed dramatically and very quickly in the time that I have been here.

"We have gone from relegation battlers to promotion contenders and a lot of that is down to the Gaffer."

Forest go into tonight's game against QPR on the back of an 18-match unbeaten run in the Championship.

Meanwhile, the Hoops are in the midst of another period of turmoil – with caretaker-boss Mick Harford the third man to take the managerial reins this season – but do remain in touching distance of the play-off places.

And Blackstock is taking nothing for granted.

"Confidence couldn't be any higher, following our 18-match unbeaten run," he said.

"I can't even remember the last time we lost now and our record at home has been particularly good. It has become something of a fortress for us.

"We have to hang onto that record."

In the meantime, by 10 o'clock tonight, Blackstock will be hoping for another result to enhance his belief that he was right to make that move up the M1.