Defender Steve Cook knows from experience the value of finishing a season strongly, regardless of where Nottingham Forest finish in the top-six.
The Reds are all-but assured of a play-off place at least, with just one point needed to make mathematically certain. But they are also not out of the running from snatching second spot off Bournemouth.
With four games left, Steve Cooper’s men are five points below the Cherries. And there is still the mouth-watering clash between the two sides at the Vitality Stadium to come next week.
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Cook was still at Bournemouth as they lost out to Brentford in the play-off semi-finals last term. He is looking to draw on that experience as Forest prepare for whatever awaits them in the next few weeks, and stresses the need to maintain momentum.
“I experienced it last year. We made the play-offs with two or three games in hand, and we ended up losing the last three,” said the January signing, who made his comeback from injury against West Bromwich Albion last week.
“You’re then kind of thinking, did that harm us? You want to go into games confident and flying, not having any doubts. That experience I had last year, hopefully I can use this year with this group of players, if play-offs is where we’re at.
“This is when you need the players who have been through these little experiences to help out in the dressing room; to try to not get carried away. As close as we are, we are still a mile off being promoted to the Premier League.
“We’re going about it as best we can. As the manager has said, we just look to the next game.
“We can only handle what we do. We just need to focus on ourselves.”
