Boss Mick McCarthy has outlined the clubs who he believes the Blues will have to compete with if they're to make the top six this season.
Before the campaign began McCarthy targeted a play-off place and that remains the aim despite the slow start.
The Town manager believes there will be tough competition at the top of the division: "I think that all of us who are competing to get that play-off spot, we’ve got to finish above [the likes of] Bolton, Forest, Leicester, Blackburn, Wigan, Reading, QPR, Leeds, having seen them, they’ve spent a few quid.
"There are eight teams there that I would expect to be up and around the top six. All of us beneath or around there at the moment are going to finish above those.”
In addition to those eight, Blackpool are the surprise current leaders of the division, while Watford, who finished third last season, and Brighton, who were fourth, will be looking for a repeat performance.