Midfielder Ben Watson says Nottingham Forest should not be underestimated as they head into the climax of the Championship season.
The Reds are fifth with three games remaining, on the back of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Preston North End - and feel a win over Swansea City on Wednesday could all-but secure their play-off spot.
Sky Sports pundit Matt Le Tissier has claimed Forest and the Lilywhites would be no match for third-placed Brentford in the play-offs.
But Watson says Sabri Lamouchi’s guidance has got the team this far - and they won’t change now.
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“The one thing with this squad is we are realistic,” said the skipper.
“We’ve had a fantastic season.
“I think it’s important that after you lose, you don’t get too low, and after wins, you don’t get too high.
“You’ve just got to be level-headed.
“We’ve done that all season.
“With three games to go, anything can happen.
“If we can get a result Wednesday night, that pretty much guarantees a place in the play-offs.
“I’ve played in these play-offs (with Crystal Palace) and anything can happen over two legs.
“You look at the League Two play-offs this year and the team who won it. Northampton were 2-0 down (to Cheltenham) in the first leg and no-one gave them a chance. They came back and in two games they’ve put everyone to the sword and achieved what they wanted to achieve.
“We’ll be no different. We won’t change the way we play. We’ll be difficult to beat and defensively solid; play how we’ve played all season.”
The visitors claimed a point at Deepdale after Lewis Grabban’s early penalty was cancelled out by Jayden Stockley’s close-range effort.
“It is a tough place to come, it is a team that put the ball in the right areas and put you under pressure with the second, third balls and set-piece and throw-ins,” Watson said.
“It is a good point and keeps them at arm’s length with three games to go.
“It has been a fantastic season, the best Forest have had for about 10 years so we have to enjoy it and see what happens.”
He added: “We have put ourselves in a fantastic position and we have to finish the job.
“There is a belief in the changing groom among the players and staff that this can be a special season. We believe that we can achieve that and we have to do the business on Wednesday night now and take each game as it comes.”
