Nottingham Forest boss Dougie Freedman believes the Blues would have a great chance of winning the play-offs if they confirm their place in the top six at Blackburn next week.

Town, who are currently fifth, need a point at Ewood Park to seal a play-off position for the first time in a decade, although they could lose and still make it as long as results elsewhere go in their favour.

“I think they’ve got a great chance, they’ve got a wonderful chance because to a man they know exactly what they’re doing,” Freedman said.

“They’re experienced, they’ve got a nous about them and in the play-offs they’ll know exactly what they have to do and they won’t change that for anybody, home or away.

“Having played in play-offs as a player and won them and lost them, [you need to] stick to your game and keep on doing what you do, you don’t alter your game.”

He added: “I think they’ve got a great chance. I’ve seen it before, I’ve seen a team just get in there.

“The key to it, I believe, is if they do what they do, and they do it very well. They get it up to Murphy, so I’m sure it’ll be no different in the play-offs.”

Daryl Murphy and Freddie Sears scored the goals which beat his side at the weekend and impressed Freedman, who sees them as an old-school type of strike partnership.

“They’re old-fashioned, you don’t normally see it these days, they play off each other. They get on to flick-ons and things like that, they are a dying breed.

“You normally get that one striker and he’s bringing people into play, but they play off each other.

“I thought we handled them quite well, I didn’t think there was a lot in the game. They are a handful but I thought we stood up for ourselves, physically we matched them, but again we’re just a little bit disappointed in how we finished the game and with losing it.”

Photo: Action Images

commuterblue added 06:36 - Apr 27 Always liked the fella
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wkj added 07:05 - Apr 27 A section of town fans don't care for Freedman, but this has won ma over, what a class bloke
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DiamondGezzer added 07:23 - Apr 27 A football manager gracious in defeat, another dying breed !
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KiwiBlue2 added 07:33 - Apr 27 Yes I think that he is 'different class' as MM might say .......... so unusual for any show of graciousness in defeat these days ..........
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carlo88 added 08:09 - Apr 27 Mind you, easier to be gracious when there's nothing riding on the result for you...
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TR11BLU added 08:21 - Apr 27 Hats off to Dougie Lets hope hes right!
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Michael11 added 09:04 - Apr 27 Nice one Dougie. Finally a manager who gives us credit for playing our own style which suits us!
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Diamonddazzler91 added 09:37 - Apr 27 Carlo88 His job has been on the line these past few games. If I remember correctly, the chairman said he was here til the end of the season, when they will evaluate his performance. Being gracious in defeat can only help that.
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midastouch added 10:39 - Apr 27 Good one Dougie, he's gone up tenfold in my estimations for having the decency to praise us. He deserves a chance at Forest. Expectations were sky high early on when they were top, especially after the money they spent, but he can't be expected to turn the ship around overnight. He deserves a crack it from the start of next season to see if he can move things on. Whether he gets that or not though is another matter as football has gone completely nuts!

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dude added 11:25 - Apr 27 nuts!
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big_gaz67 added 12:15 - Apr 27 Barnet are my second team (hope to see them at Colchester next year!) so Doouuuggiieee is a bit of a hero and this only backs it up.
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DerryfromBury added 20:02 - Apr 27 Just shows you can't always judge someone on first impressions, particularly when they're being interviewed on TV. Very rare nowadays, up there with Mark Warburton another manager always genuine and gracious in defeat. Not only that but one that recognises and respects another managers strengths.
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blueboy1981 added 17:34 - Apr 28 ........ a dying breed !! ....... Dinosaurs immediately spring to mind, but never mind as long as we get to the 'promised land' before extinction kicks in, all will be fine.
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