Nottingham Forest have a secret weapon in their push for promotion - “their fantastic fans”.
Six of the Reds’ final 10 games of the Championship season take place at the City Ground, with Millwall first up on Friday night.
Head coach Sabri Lamouchi has frequently spoken of his surprise at the backing his team have received.
And he believes that support can make the difference in the run-in as Forest have Huddersfield Town, Bristol City, Fulham, Swansea City and, on the final day, Stoke City to come on home turf.
“We are in for an exciting finish,” said Lamouchi, whose side sit fourth, eight points off the automatic places and with a six-point gap to the seventh-placed Robins.
“We are still in the race for the play-offs, and maybe we need to make sure of that position as soon as we can.
“We have increased the belief, and that is not just because of results, it is also because of the performances of the players.
“Game after game, week after week and month after month, they have increased the belief.
“Now it is their story, and they need to know what they want to do for the rest of the season.
“We have just 10 games left, and of those 10, six are here at the City Ground.
“It is not necessary to ask for more support, because more support from our fans is just impossible.
“On Monday, on a weekday at Middlesbrough, there was a lot of people.
“And for the next six home games, our fans will feel and know (what we can do).
“It is not just this year; they have been suffering a lot for many, many years.
“Like the players, they also feel, ‘why not us? Why not this year?’.
“They will be behind the team and behind the players.”
The Reds have the second-highest average home attendance in the Championship, averaging 27,748, just behind Leeds (35,251).
More than 20 years have passed since the club graced the top-flight of English football, but Lamouchi’s men have offered a glimmer of hope that could change.
They know an improved performance is required against the Lions, having not been at their best in Monday night’s 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough.
But the manager has made it clear they all know what is at stake in the remaining matches.
“I was frustrated, upset and disappointed after Monday, but the players first, because they know exactly what they can do,” said Lamouchi.
“If the fans have a lot of hope for this year, it is just because the players have done a fantastic job until now.
“Of course we have missed some opportunities. Of course we have missed some good results. Of course we have made some mistakes - everybody, and first, me.
“But we are where we are, and now we have the last rush for the last 10 games, with six at home.
“To play at home, with our fantastic fans, is a big help. It is a fantastic help.
“If we want to be optimistic, it can change a lot.
“We just need to be very positive and confident, and give our best performance on Friday and each game until the end.
“We need to give the best we can, because we don’t want to finish with any regrets.”
