Head coach Sabri Lamouchi has sensed a “change in the mentality” of his Nottingham Forest players as the Championship season heads towards a defining period.
Eight months have passed since the 48-year-old took up post at the City Ground, for his first job in English football.
Fast forward the clock and he has learnt a lot about the Championship and his players, leading them to fourth in the table ahead of Monday’s trip to Middlesbrough.
Lamouchi says as a group they have made great strides in that period of time - with one final push to come.
“There is an attitude difference from the dressing room before games,” the Frenchman said. “They focus more on the small details.
“I am surprised. But this is very, very good.
“They are competitive, and get more competitive game after game.
“For sure, it is different to at the start.
“When you look back, we have had many great performances - at home and especially away.
“Step by step, game after game, week after week, we feel like a team. This has made the difference until now, and I am sure for the rest of the season.
“To see them all together, looking the same way, looking forward, concentrating, is very positive.
“Many things were new for me at the start - club, league, country, football, players. Now it is absolutely different.
“I know my squad perfectly. And I know this league is amazing, but a crazy league. It is so long, so tough and so difficult.
“We just need to be consistent.”
Lamouchi is also keen for his group to remain united - including those currently struggling for game time.
Forest’s team spirit has been a key factor this term, and those not regularly in the first XI have played a big part in that.
“The group is just fantastic. All of them,” Lamouchi said. “A lot of players are not playing, but they are training so well.
“They are still one of us. We are like a family. We are a team; a group.
“We have been working hard from July.
“We just want to work hard until the end and stay all together until the end.
“We will see at the end where we will be, but we want to fight all together.”
The Reds will make the trip north looking to make it back-to-back away victories after beating Cardiff City 1-0 on Tuesday night.
That result ended a three-game winless run as Tiago Silva’s strike made Lamouchi’s men only the second team this season to return from South Wales triumphant.
“It was big for confidence, because how many teams have won in Cardiff? Just one before us. Nobody else,” said the Forest boss.
“It is a difficult place to go, but we deserved the victory and we deserved to score more.
“We played with character and personality. We dominated the game. We absolutely controlled the game.
“We need this confidence for the last 11 games. Eleven cup finals.
“Confidence is really important.
“Step by step, the mentality from the players is changing a little bit. That is a great positive.
“They are switched on. They are focused. They are determined.
“They want to increase the belief.
“If the fans start to believe, just imagine the players.
“The players are making a lot of sacrifices and putting in a lot of effort. They have done a fantastic job until now.
“They are in the best position to know, ‘why not us?’.
“They switch on immediately before all the games, before all sessions.
“With the weather and the pitches, it is not easy to keep working now, being a little bit tired - not only physically but also mentally.
“We have to show personality and character.”
