Head coach Sabri Lamouchi played down talk of automatic promotion after Nottingham Forest made it 10 league games unbeaten with a 1-0 victory over Brentford.
But the Frenchman nevertheless felt his players put in their best performance of his reign as Ben Watson’s second half volley took them joint-top of the Championship going into the international break.
The Reds sit level on points with West Bromwich Albion - the only team to beat them in the league - separated by a goal difference of one.
Asked if he considers his team to be automatic promotion contenders, Lamouchi said: “No, come on.
“I am happy to be where we are now because maybe I have more time to work.
“They have given me more confidence. Players, club, fans, everyone around the club can trust a little bit more.
“But I am just focused on my job, and my job is what happens on the pitch - the next game.
“When we come back we have another five games before the next international break.
“Step by step.
“To talk about promotion… I don’t say it is impossible for the fans, for you, for the club, maybe.
“But it is like this every year because this club deserves the best.
“We have fantastic fans.
“But my players are where they are by merit and I am so impressed by what they are doing. It has been an amazing month (since the last international break).”
In their five Championship games since the last round of international fixtures, Forest have picked up 13 points from a possible 15.
They saw less of the ball against the Bees, but created the better chances, with Lamouchi impressed by the whole team’s effort throughout the 90 minutes.
“I said to the players at the end of the game, we have been working together for three months now, and for me, this was the best performance,” he said. “The best one.
“I like this kind of game. Why? Because everyone gave their best for the team and the team fought together.
“We created a lot and we didn’t give the opponent much. We deserved this victory. We deserve to be where we are, and congratulations for that.”
He added: “It was a very good performance. I am so impressed because it has been an amazing month (since the last break), but the game today was just unbelievable.
“Joe Lolley, Matty Cash, Joe Worrall, everyone; They all played for the team; they all played with concentration and passion, and they respected the plan.
“We scored at a good time. Maybe we could have scored a second one to finish with less pressure, but what a performance it was.”
