NOTTINGHAM Forest will win promotion to the Premier League this season – according to the writers monitoring the progress of their Championship rivals.
Four of the men covering the top seven sides in the table believe the Reds will not only secure a top-six finish – but also triumph at Wembley.
A survey of the reporters covering the Championship's promotion rivals has revealed Billy Davies' side are now regarded as the favourites to seal a place in the top flight via the play-offs.
A run of six consecutive wins heading into the international break lifted Forest to fifth in the table.
The momentum built under the returning manager has revived the fortunes of a season that had looked to be dead and buried following the sacking of Sean O'Driscoll and the short tenure of Alex McLeish.
When Forest return to action with the visit of Brighton on March 30, they will be looking to equal a club record of seven consecutive wins.
And that remarkable run of form has attracted the attention of their promotion rivals, who are now looking over their shoulders at Davies' side.
Forest do face a tough run in, with games against promotion-chasing Brighton, Cardiff, Middlesbrough and Leicester – in a potentially crucial final day clash – still to come.
While they also face Barnsley, Blackpool and Millwall, who need points to avoid getting sucked into the relegation fray.
But, if they can extend their unbeaten seven-match run under Davies, they could yet secure their third top-six finish under the Scotsman.
