Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper is expecting plenty of twists and turns in the Championship’s promotion race between now and May.
And he wants the Reds to seize the moment as they try to gatecrash the top six in the remaining games.
Cooper’s side have dropped out of the play-off spots on the back of two draws, sitting five points below sixth-placed Sheffield United, in 10th.
But the Welshman says it shouldn’t be forgotten where the team have come from and the impressive results they have claimed, having been bottom when he arrived in September.
“Through my time here, we’ve done most things - we’ve had comebacks, we’ve played really well and won, we’ve played really well and not won, we’ve played okay and lost, and played okay and won,” he said.
“The players have shown, even in my short time here, that they are capable of doing good things.
“It’s just about looking forward now and living in the moment. It’s a good moment for us. It’s where you want to be, having something to play for at this part of the season - and something positive to play for. At a certain stage, maybe we would have taken this.
“Anything can happen in the Championship, and it will, probably!
“If it plays up to norm, then there will be something strange happening probably every week and every round of games.
“There will be twists and turns. There’s a lot of games to play and a lot of points to play for.
“That’s why you’ve got to look after your own house, get your own house in order and not think too much about what’s going on elsewhere, otherwise you just tie yourself up in knots and don’t concentrate on the bits you can affect yourself.”
On the back of their own goalless stalemate at Preston North End on Tuesday night, results didn’t go Forest’s way the following evening as QPR, Sheffield United and Luton Town picked up victories.
But Cooper’s focus is simply on getting back to winning ways against Bristol City on Saturday.
“It’s so close. You look at games swinging in the last-minute last night,” he said of the table.
“I watched the games last night, because you do when you’re not playing yourself, to try to do some analysis for the upcoming games.
“It doesn’t disappoint on that front, does it?!
“Maybe sometimes when it affects you it’s not so good, but in terms of a spectacle, that’s what the Championship is.
“We’ve just got to really focus on creating our own stories and be responsible for our journey. That’s all we can do - train well, play well, commit to the next game and try to pick up as many points as we can.
“It’s great that we’re in this position and that we’re in the mix. Who knows, it could have been very different.
“Let’s thrive on the position we’re in. Let’s be motivated to do well. Focus on the next game and see where it takes us.”
