Dougie Freedman: 'Playoffs out of reach for Nottingham Forest'

Nottingham Forest manager Dougie Freedman has revealed that he does not believe his side can get into the Championship's playoff places, despite their improved form under him.

Since Freedman succeeded Stuart Pearce last month, Forest have won three and drawn one, including a 4-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers yesterday, to move back up to ninth in the table.

However, 12 points separate them from the top six with 14 games to go and Freedman thinks that it is too big a gap.

"I do genuinely think [the playoff places] are too far away, yes," Freedman told the Nottingham Post. "I can give you a fantastic quote that would give you a headline, saying that we can do it, if you like, but I am an honest guy and I think they are a little bit far away for us.

"We are in a rich vein of form and, if you are in a rich vein of form, the best time to do it is heading into the final 10 or 12 games of the season. It was 73 points (for a playoff place) last season, it has been 71 before... I do know what it takes to get in the play-offs.

"But if the teams in fifth and sixth keep winning matches, the games will very quickly run out for us."

Next up for Forest is a visit from high-flying Bournemouth on Tuesday night.