NOTTINGHAM Forest are piling pressure on themselves to prove their promotion credentials before 2013, said Andy Reid today.
Having had five months to come to terms with a new manager, a new squad and a new style of play, the winger is convinced things will now fall into place for the Reds.
Reid believes the rest of the Championship will already be looking over their shoulders at Forest, who face promotion hopefuls Hull City today.
But he says there is no greater level of expectation than in the City Ground dressing room.
"When we started the season we were still putting the squad together, we were still getting used to each other," said Reid.
"We had a new manager who wanted to put his stamp on the team.
"But that is not the case any more. Now we feel as though we are starting to gel, we are starting to understand what the manager wants from us and he is starting to see what he can get from us.
"Now is the time for us to deliver. I have no problem with putting that pressure on ourselves.
"We are happy to put that pressure on ourselves, because that is what we do. We believe we can challenge.
"We expect we will be up at that end of the table.
"We have plenty of players who have experience of challenging for promotion, but it isn't just that. We have players who are hungry for it as well.
"That is very important as well."
Forest have six games to play between now and the new year, starting with the visit of Hull today.
And Reid believes the club can establish themselves as contenders during that time.
"We have spoken about that as a squad and with the manager and the coaching staff," he said.
"We feel now is the time for us to kick on. We feel that we have a quality squad, not just when it comes to the starting 11, but also when it comes to those who have been on the bench.
"We have a strong squad; one that is capable of challenging in this division.
"When teams pick up injuries and suspensions – as we will do – we feel we are well equipped to cope.
"Coming up to Christmas and through the new year period, we want to go on a good run. This is the time we want to be coming into our own.
"We have a lot of matches between now and January and we believe we are capable of changing the picture completely. That is our goal."
