What a couple of games Nottingham Forest have got to look forward to over the next few days, starting with a visit to Craven Cottage on Saturday before the small matter of Derby on Tuesday.
They've set themselves up nicely with a hardworking point at Charlton on Wednesday night - a game where they showed no shortage of character to earn a positive result.
Many fans will be looking ahead to the Carabao Cup meeting with the Rams, but, for me, if I had to pick, I’d want three points over Fulham first and foremost.
It goes without saying that beating Derby is important – and I’d love nothing more than to keep hold of the Brian Clough Trophy.
We also know it can give momentum to a season, even at this stage, while if there was a chance of adding some extra pressure to them, then great. However, the quest for Championship points is more pressing.
Beating Derby won’t get you into the Premier League, overcoming Fulham might just help you on the path to do just that.
Of course, in an ideal world Sabri Lamouchi’s Reds would win both games and we’d head into the final game before the first international break of the season in fine fettle and, most likely, sitting pretty inside the top six.
The next few days are huge for the manager, especially if he can pull out a result at Craven Cottage – taking anything from that into Tuesday will be massive, though, as I say, the key is to forget Derby for now, let the fans worry about that and focus on Saturday.
Garry Birtles was in conversation with Barry Cooper
