Nottingham Forest belong in the top flight of English football.
That's according to Sky Sports' ' Ultimate League '.
The Reds have been outside of the top tier since 1999, and since then have had a 17-year spell in the second division with three League One seasons sandwiched between.
Martin O'Neill's side were expected to challenge for promotion this season following a significant summer outlay, including the record signing of Joao Carvalho from Benfica and the purchase of Lewis Grabban, the latter firing Aston Villa to the Championship play-off final last season.
But another managerial change with Aitor Karanka departing in January, replaced by Martin O'Neill, saw Forest fall out of the play-off race and rivals Derby County sneak into sixth place.
Forest haven't finished above Derby in the League since the 2012/13 campaign , but according to Sky their record in the last 50 years suggests that's exactly where they should be.
Sky describe their 'Ultimate League' as follows: "The Ultimate League factors each club's average league position over the past 50 years and includes every club that has featured in England's top four tiers for at least 10 seasons during that period."
The Reds should, based upon their illustrious double-European Cup winning history, finish above Derby in the top-flight - but only just.
Forest's average position over the past 50 years is 22nd, the 17th best in England, with some clubs sharing the same score.
One place below are Derby, but only by 0.4 of a position.
West Brom and Sunderland make up the rest of the bottom three, with Liverpool top and Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur making up the top four.
