Once a team battling to survive in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest has become a serious top-four contender this season, drawing comparisons to Leicester City’s legendary 2016 title-winning campaign.

A little over a year ago, Nottingham Forest was staring down the barrel of relegation. Today, under the leadership of Nuno Espirito Santo, they’ve risen to 4th in the Premier League table, just two points shy of Arsenal. With a 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium—courtesy of goals from Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga—Forest has now recorded three consecutive wins, a feat they’ve achieved twice this season.

Former Barcelona and England striker Gary Lineker is among those marveling at Forest’s transformation. Speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day, Lineker drew parallels between Forest’s style and Leicester City’s fairy tale run to the Premier League title in 2016 under Claudio Ranieri.

“I see similarities with the way Leicester won the league,” Lineker commented. “I’m not saying Forest will win the league, but the style is comparable.”

The turnaround under Nuno Espirito Santo has been remarkable. Forest now boasts one of the league’s most disciplined and efficient styles of play, anchored by a strong spine in the team and a knack for turning defense into attack with lightning speed.

Former Everton midfielder Ashley Williams also heaped praise on the Reds. “They’re so comfortable without the ball,” he said. “When they win it back, it’s all about quick, purposeful transitions. They don’t mess around with possession; they create chances almost every time they attack.”

Forest’s current tally of nine Premier League wins in just 17 games equals their entire total from last season, underscoring their transformation under Nuno’s stewardship. With players like Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina shining, fans are beginning to dream of a historic season for the Reds.