Thursday 27 April 2017 19:38, UK
Mark Warburton insisted his Nottingham Forest side need to start getting the wins their performances warrant, and is adamant even a win over QPR on Saturday does not necessarily mean they are safe.
Victory over Reading at the weekend certainly boosted Forests' chances of survival after a turbulent season on and off the pitch, with Warburton's men now three points clear of the Championship dropzone.
The vital success at the City Ground over the Royals was only Warburton's second win in charge of the Championship strugglers, since becoming their third boss of the season in March.
And, speaking on the EFL Weekly podcast, while the former Rangers boss feels his side have performed well of late, there is still much work to be done to ensure their Championship safety.
"The three points [against Reading] were the most important," Warburton said. "The first hour or so we were very dominant and deserved to be in front against a talented Reading side, but we have to learn from the last 20-25 minutes. We let a good team like Reading play, conceded two late goals and put everyone on tenterhooks.
"The table doesn't lie at this stage of the season. We have the quality, nobody is doubting that, and we know how good they can be. We had good performances against Preston away and should have taken all three points, likewise against Derby, but we have to play well for 90 minutes, and turn these good performances into wins.
"We have two really big games coming up, and we are really looking forward to them."
The first of those two games still to play is against out-of-form QPR on Saturday. The Rs have lost their last six games, but Warburton feels that with QPR not assured of their own safety yet, there is all to play for at Loftus Road.
"We would be on 51 points [with victory], and you'd like to think that was enough, but you can never be sure in football, and certainly not at this end of the table," Warburton added. "In the last two games we just have to deliver two winning performances."
"It is a very significant fixture for both teams. They were the Championship's form team recently, but they have had a tough time over the last six games, and suddenly everyone is aware that of we win on Saturday we go above QPR. It is a game that their players will appreciate the significance of."
