Nottingham Forest are set to challenge for a place in the top-six this season, with Mark Warburton’s men lying just seven points from a play-off berth approaching the halfway stage of the season.

The former Brentford boss’ impressive group have performed excellently at times, but a lack of consistency has seriously harmed their progression up the table.

18-year-old forward Ben Brereton knows the answer to this problem, and it lies in Forest’s poor away form.

No side in the division has picked up more Championship home wins than the Reds this calendar year, but just three games won on the road this term has seen the club restricted.

Forest have won two on the bounce just once this season, and away defeats have often succeeded solid home wins.

“We are very confident at home but now we need to take that into the away performances,” Brererton told The Nottingham Post.

“Because we have a young squad, perhaps we don’t have the experience of going to different grounds and the different challenges they pose, but that will come.

“With every game we are getting better, we will get stronger than this.”

The Verdict

Brereton’s assessment is extremely fair, as it is blindly obvious that Forest’s away form will result in their failure to qualify for the playoffs this season.

The Reds have lost their last three away games on the bounce, and Warburton must find a solution to this problem if his side are to realistically launch a prolonged promotion push for the duration of the campaign.

Perhaps an influx of experienced players in the new year will make the difference, with a supplement of experience needed to blend with Forest’s undeniably talented group of academy graduates.

Sort their away form, and Forest look dead certs for a top-six finish.

Forest fans, can your side realistically reach the playoffs this season? Have your say below...