Peterborough United manager Grant McCann has claimed that Nottingham Forest are a better team than Championship league leaders Fulham ahead of Posh's clash with the Reds this weekend.
Unless a miracle occurs, then United are set to be relegated from the Championship unless then can overturn an eight-point deficit on Reading in 21st position, and they face possibly the stiffest task yet when Forest visit the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Forest have lost just one league game since the the start of February - that coming against Luton Town last week - and with every win they produce they look a force to be reckoned with under Steve Cooper.
With two games in-hand over the rest of the play-off contenders, it looks as though barring a late collapse in results that the Tricky Trees will be in the top six at the end of the season, and their last 10 matches show that they are the form team right now.
They have picked up 23 points out of a possible 30 compared to Fulham's 19-point haul, and because of what he's seen recently, McCann thinks that Forest are now the team to beat in the league.
"Nottingham Forest are probably the best team in the league right now, I know Fulham have won the league, but in terms of the form of the Reds at present, I don’t think there is anyone better," McCann said, per NottinghamshireLive.
"Steve Cooper has done a really good job, since he took over they have been on a wonderful run and they will need the points to stay in contention."
The Verdict
McCann may have a point considering Fulham have struggled against the likes of Derby, Barnsley and West Brom recently.
And even though the Cottagers have already secured promotion, there's less holes to pick in Forest recently, and you have to wonder if Cooper had started the season in charge at the City Ground where they'd be right now.
The Welshman has transformed the club from strugglers under Chris Hughton who hadn't won in their first seven matches of the campaign to arguably the best team in the league.
It would take a monumental catastrophe for Forest to not make the play-offs now - they can of course still get automatic promotion with the games in-hand they have but that would still be asking a lot.