Nottingham Forest has experienced a dramatic shift in fortunes over the past twelve months, transitioning from a team battling for a spot in the Champions League to one desperately fighting to avoid relegation to the Championship. This time last year, the club stood third in the table, a position far removed from their current precarious standing, just four points above the Premier League relegation zone.

The past fortnight has been particularly damaging for Forest, marked by a series of significant losses. A recent 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa was preceded by consecutive losses to Fulham, Manchester City, and Everton, contributing to a winless streak that has intensified scrutiny on the team's performance. Despite these setbacks, head coach Sean Dyche is keen to emphasize that his side had demonstrated consistency and improvement prior to this recent downturn. He firmly believes that the current streak skews the overall narrative, pointing to a strong start where he won seven of his opening twelve games since his appointment in October.

Dyche remains confident in Forest's ability to survive the Premier League season and secure their top-flight status. He reiterated that his team is a work in progress and, as such, there is no sense of panic from the manager. Ahead of Tuesday's crucial trip to fellow strugglers West Ham, Dyche aims to instill a sense of perspective regarding his players' performance, urging them to remember their potential and the progress made before this challenging period. This stark contrast to their seventh-place finish last season, when they were firmly challenging towards the top of the league, underscores the rollercoaster journey Nottingham Forest has endured.