Tuesday night’s hard-fought 1-0 win at Fulham guaranteed a top-six finish for Nottingham Forest.
Steve Cooper’s side are certain of a place in the play-offs, at least. But they could yet achieve more than that, with second spot not out of reach.
The Reds have three more games to play, starting with Swansea City at the City Ground on Saturday. After that there is the small matter of a potentially-decisive trip to Bournemouth, followed by an away clash at Hull City on the final day.
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There is still plenty to be decided in the Championship promotion race as the finish line draws into view. And a number of different permutations are possible.
Forest are three points below the second-placed Cherries. Both teams have three games left, including that one between the two on the south coast next Tuesday, and are tied on goal difference.
If the Reds win all three of their remaining matches and better Bournemouth’s goal difference, they will finish second. Scott Parker’s team go to Blackburn Rovers this weekend and see out the campaign at home to Millwall.
Should the Cherries lose at Ewood Park, Forest would go above them on goal difference if they topple the Swans. A draw for Bournemouth and a Reds win would see the gap between the two at one point ahead of their meeting.
If Cooper’s side drop points Trentside, they could still finish the season second - but it would make Tuesday’s game even more crucial, especially if the result doesn’t go their way at Blackburn. A Forest defeat and a Bournemouth win at the weekend would see the gap back to six points.
To add to the equation, Huddersfield Town are not yet out of the running for the second automatic spot. They are level on points with the Reds (on 76, to Bournemouth’s 79), so could still overtake the two teams ahead of them, but they have just the two games left.
The lowest Forest could possibly finish in the table now is fifth. If they do not pick up any more points, only the Terriers and Luton Town can go past them.
