Alan Smith has boldly declared that Nottingham Forest are officially in the Premier League title race following the latest round of top-flight fixtures.
The team, which only returned to the Premier League in 2022, continued their remarkable 2024-25 campaign with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Southampton on Sunday under the guidance of head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
This victory sees Forest climb to third in the Premier League table with 44 points from 22 matches.
They are only behind second-placed Arsenal on goal difference, while Liverpool lead the league with 50 points and a game in hand over both Arsenal and Forest.
Despite the gap, former Arsenal striker Alan Smith insists that Forest must now be considered legitimate title contenders.
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Their last English championship came in 1978, but Smith believes they could emulate Leicester City’s incredible 2016 Premier League triumph, which came against 5000-1 odds.
“It’s incredible,” Smith told Sky Sports regarding Forest’s extraordinary season, particularly after finishing 17th in the league last year.
“Chris Wood keeps scoring. They’re absolutely full of belief.
“They’re [now] in the title race, mathematically. I think realistically, they are not, but we probably said the same about Leicester. Who knows? It could be another miracle.”
Former Leicester defender Robert Huth, a key figure in the Foxes’ 2016 title-winning side, also believes Forest are genuine challengers this season.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Huth expressed his admiration for Forest’s rise, though he stopped short of fully endorsing them as champions.
“Yeah, of course, it’s great to see a smaller club challenging at the top of the league,” Huth said.
“As much as I want them to do well, I don’t want them to win the league because I don’t think Leicester fans would forgive me [due to the rivalry].
“But they’re flying this season and deserve to be up there. For sure, they are in the race. We’re into the important part of the season now, and they need to keep going.”
With Forest’s impressive run and belief building among players and fans alike, the stage is set for a potentially historic Premier League season. Could this be another footballing fairy tale? Time will tell.
