CHRIS Cohen hopes Nottingham Forest can extend their five-match unbeaten run to provide the foundations for a promotion push.
But he admits doing so will be more difficult than ever.
Forest look as though they are building some momentum under Sean O'Driscoll, following a thumping 4-1 win at Barnsley last weekend.
And with consecutive home games coming up, against Millwall and Middlesbrough, Cohen hopes Forest can continue their climb up the Championship table.
Cohen was part of the Reds side that went 36 games unbeaten at home until March 2011 and the squad that enjoyed 19 games without defeat overall until January 2010.
But he believes the Championship is a tougher prospect now.
"We went on runs of form under Billy and you saw the confidence that brought to us. Particularly that run at home, that was very good. It played a big part in where we ended up in those two seasons," said Cohen.
"If we can get another run like that going, it is going to be a good season.
"That has to be our aim – but, while we picked up a good win on Saturday, it is about being respectful to the league; it is about accepting that anything could still happen between now and the end of the season.
"We have to keep our attitude right, we have to keep working hard. We can enjoy things, but we have to do the same again next week.
"It is a hard league. Next we have Millwall at home. It is tough game after tough game. You never look at things and say 'oh that's a banker'."
Cohen says Forest feels like a good place to be right now.
"The owners have spent wisely, the manager has spent wisely. They have brought good characters into the club. That is important," he said.
"At this moment in time, things are really good. Hopefully our momentum will carry us through to the end of the season.
"We know we are going to create chances, because we have so many good players, so many players who can be match winners.
"We have people like myself and Simon Gillett who will work hard and try to graft, to get our best players, our most creative players – people like Reidy, Cox, Radi, Billy Sharp – on the ball, to get them doing what they do best."
