Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton says the Championship is closer than ever this season, as his team look to pull clear of danger.
The Reds have lost just once in their last nine league games but still find themselves only four points clear of the drop zone after Tuesday night’s victory over Coventry City.
Just 11 points separate third-bottom Sheffield Wednesday from 11th placed Preston North End, while there are 13 points between Forest and the play-off spots.
The unique challenges of this campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic mean any number of sides could yet be dragged into a relegation battle.
“I think it’s particularly close this season,” Hughton said.
“I know the Championship well and it has always been a difficult league, where teams can beat anybody. But for me, no more than this season.
“For me, this is the most open and competitive season I’ve seen, and I think it is because of the circumstances. For instance, with no supporters - sometimes there’s a bit of a freedom playing away from home.
“You look at the game we lost against Middlesbrough - they lost their home game before that and their home game afterwards.
“I just think the circumstances of this season make it far more open.
“It is more of a challenge, but it’s a challenge anyway. You’re up against good sides.
“One of our better performances was against Rotherham at home, but it was still a game where we didn’t get the result we wanted to.
“I can’t think of a comfortable game we’ve had all season, and there would probably be a lot of clubs who would say exactly the same.”
The Reds have strengthened their ranks in the January transfer window, bringing in Filip Krovinovic, James Garner and Glenn Murray, as well as extending Anthony Knockaert’s loan.
With rock-bottom Wycombe Wanderers next up, there is the chance to try to create a bit more breathing space for themselves in the league standings.
“We’d like to be able to pull away from that, and that’s down to performances and getting results, because it’s not a very comfortable position,” Hughton said.
“What we are finding is the teams who are around us and the teams who are below us are all capable of winning games. We consistently see that every match day.
“The emphasis has to be on ourselves, because if we are having to rely on the teams around us then I don’t think that would be the case, because I can see them winning games.
“It has to be about us.
“We will need to win a number of games to make sure we stay clear of that.
“That pressure is there. The league position shows that.
“But what I do see is a team who are very good in training and the atmosphere around the squad is good, particularly with some players coming back in (from injury).
“But there is a pressure which comes with the position we are in, and that pressure goes into each game. That’s normal when you’re in the position we are in, as it is when you’re a team in the top six.”
