Vitor: It will be tough right to finish

REDS HEAD COACH EXPECTING PREMIER LEAGUE SURVIVAL BATTLE TO GO TO THE WIRE

- By SARAH CLAPSON [e-mail] @Sarah_Clapson

HEAD coach Vitor Pereira expects Nottingham Forest's battle for survival to go right down to the wire.

Sunday's 0-0 stalemate against Fulham lifted the Reds back out of the Premier League relegation zone, after they had dropped into it when West Ham United picked up a point on Saturday evening. Goal difference is all that separates Pereira's side from the bottom three, however.

Forest are winless in seven League matches and continue to be hamstrung by their inability to find the back of the net. They have eight games remaining to try to keep their heads above water and Pereira has warned his team to be ready for a scrap to the finish.

"In my opinion, I said to them now, this is not a speed race," the Portuguese told Sky Sports after the weekend's draw at the City Ground.