Dougie Freedman has admitted that Nottingham Forest must continue building momentum if they are to have any chance of achieving their target of a top-six finish.
The Reds have hit a rich vein of form over the last month by winning three of their four games to leave themselves in 15th place in the Championship table.
Ahead of his side's meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers this evening, Freedman has confessed that Forest cannot afford to slip up over the festive period if they are to keep within touching distance of the playoffs.
"I said to the lads before we played those [last two] fixtures, and I will for the next two as well, if we've got any way of thinking that we'd like to be in the top six come the end of the season, we need to get into the top half by Christmas or the New Year period," the Nottingham Post quotes him as saying.
"We need to make sure we go on a winning streak - I believe they've got that in them. People always tell me it's the beginning or the end of the season [which is most pivotal], but the festive period puts you in a position either to strike or not to strike. Simple as that. I feel we've got to get within striking distance."
Forest, currently six points off the playoff zone, can move into the top half of the table with victory over Midlands rivals Wolves at Molineux.