Nuno Espirito Santo has tempered Champions League expectations for Nottingham Forest after they moved up to fourth with their win over Brentford last Saturday.
Goals in either half from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga ended the Bees' unbeaten record at the Gtech Community Stadium this season.
Forest have now won as many away games in the Premier League this season (five) as they did in 2022-23 and 2023-24 combined, while only in 1994-95 (10) have they had more away wins in a top-flight campaign.
They also have 31 points from their 17 league games this term (W9 D4 L4). It’s the earliest they’ve attained 30+ points in a top-flight season since finishing third in 1987-88 (14th game).
What is even more impressive is that their points haul this season is just one shy of what they managed when they finished 17th in the 2023-24 campaign.
The Opta supercomputer hands Nuno's side a 4.6% chance of finishing in the top four at the end of the season, though the Forest boss insisted there is still room for improvement.
"I'm always confident. Since the start of last season, I've always been confident that good work, dedication and commitment can achieve good results," Nuno said.
"I'm very proud of the players with the way they're working every day and staying humble - and recognising that we have a lot of things to improve and a long way to go."
Up next for Nuno is an encounter against former side Tottenham at the City Ground on Boxing Day.
Having won six of seven Premier League meetings with Tottenham between 1993 and 1997, Forest have now lost each of their last six against them.
But they will be confident of piling more misery on Ange Postecoglou, having won each of their last three Premier League games, last winning four consecutively in the top-flight between April and May 1995.
Nuno, however, has overseen an overhaul of players during his time at the helm in the East Midlands, with 11 new faces arriving at the City Ground ahead of this season.
But when asked whether more additions would be welcomed through the door in January, Nuno was reserved, saying: "Honestly, we have two games to go [before the window opens].
"This is what we're focussed on. Of course, there is work to be done, but in the right moment, we will do it. But now the focus is on Spurs and how well we compete again."
