Forest lend retro feel to table - here's why they can stay the course

Forest won the First Division title in 1978 with Liverpool coming second, while the final league positions were reversed a year later.

During the 80s, Forest finished third on three occasions and, in those seasons, Liverpool twice ended as champions as well as coming runners-up.

Under Brian Clough, Forest shocked the continent by lifting the European Cup in 1979 and retaining the crown a year later.

They have not competed in that competition since the 1980-81 campaign, but can fans start dreaming of hearing the Champions League anthem at the City Ground next season?

Having 37 points after 19 games shows mixed results in the Premier League era.

For example, Wimbledon finished eighth in 1997 having had the same tally at this stage and Sunderland came seventh three years later, while Chelsea (2003) and Liverpool (2008) both managed to finish in the top four at the end of the campaign.

Forest are not just armed with a potent goalscorer, they are solid defensively too having conceded only 19 goals in as many games so far this season.

Only leaders Liverpool (17) and third-placed Arsenal (16) have shipped fewer in the top-flight this term.

Goalkeeper Matz Sels leads the way in the league with eight clean sheets and although he had a comfortable afternoon on Merseyside, he did make a sharp stop off Beto to preserve another shutout.

But Forest's star of the show in their backline is centre-half Nikola Milenkovic, who will surely be a contender for bargain signing of the season.

Having previously been linked with 'bigger' clubs, Forest swooped to sign Milenkovic for just £12m from Fiorentina in the summer and the towering Serbia international is showcasing what other sides are missing out on.

The 27-year-old is the bedrock of Forest's fine defensive showings and marshals his team-mates with confidence and authority.

Forest have capitalised on members of the traditional top six faltering this season.

Champions Manchester City's crisis has been well-documented, and they currently sit in fifth place, while Tottenham and Manchester United are nowhere to be seen, languishing in the bottom half of the table.

Aston Villa's packed schedule is catching up with them - they are down in ninth place after finishing fourth last season.

"Our expectations are the same," said Nuno. "We have to prepare for the next one."

That game in the new year comes against his former club Wolves, who are rejuvenated under Vitor Pereira, and a good result there is another step closer to retro becoming a new reality.