Football fans are notoriously fickle, but it says a lot about some Nottingham Forest supporters that they are still to be convinced by new boss Chris Hughton.
Perhaps it’s because fans can’t go to games, the situation Forest are in clouding their judgement or general over-expectancy, but that element are fairly vocal on social media whenever Forest lose.
However, it is clear that the tide is turning – Forest have now lost one out of their last nine league games – and there is other data to suggest Hughton is doing a good job, too.
Alternate tables are always interesting and while they don’t change what’s actually happening as such, they do give you an indication as to how a manager/club is faring.
If the league season started when Hughton first walked into The City Ground on October 6, the Reds would be in the lofty heights of 12th – seven clear of 22nd placed Huddersfield Town and six behind 6th placed Reading, albeit having played a game more than the Royals.
They would be the epitome of a mid-table side after 23 games, with seven wins, eight draws and eight defeats.
To further back this up, Forest’s goals for would be 21 and goals against would be 23 – a goal difference of -2. If you offered fans 12th now, there aren’t many who wouldn’t snap your hand off.
Considering that some have said that this group of players are a) unbalanced beyond belief and b) the worst the club has had since Championship relegation in 2005, it very much highlights that Hughton is doing a good job.
There is a shorter term alternate table that really does suggest Forest have turned the corner – the league table if it had started when Sheffield Wednesday sacked Tony Pulis.
This one is only six games deep, but Forest would be fifth – behind fourth placed Swansea City on goal difference and one point behind first placed – and East Midlands neighbours – Derby County.
Interestingly, Sheffield Wednesday would be 3rd while Queens Park Rangers would be 8th, which while highlighting that teams around Forest are getting their act together, also shows they are following suit.
It is testament to the nature of the Championship and how volatile the table can be that Forest fans could either be quietly content or petrified come 5pm Saturday.
If Forest beat Wycombe Wanderers, they could go as high as 15th. If they lose, they could drop into the bottom three.
However, given Hughton is really starting to make his mark – four wins and four draws in the Reds’ last nine league games – he is very much on course to keep them up and deserves a lot of credit for that, too.
Will Chris Hughton be a long-term success at Nottingham Forest?
Receive a digest of our best Nottingham Forest content each week direct to your mailbox
