Over the last few weeks I have boldly stated that the Rams should be aiming not for the playoff places, but for automatic promotion. After 2 consecutive League losses, does that opinion need reassessment?

In last week's article I suggested that it was a 'Premier League week' for the Rams, with games against Chelsea and Leicester; and that having done pretty well against Chelsea, the Leicester game would be a good indicator of the Rams' automatic promotion chances.

So after a shambolic display against Leicester, and a thumping win for the home side - who are looking like champions-in-waiting - where are we now? Where do the Rams go from here?

(As an aside, and nothing to do with the subject at hand, does everyone remember the snickers when Leicester paid a million for non-league striker Jamie Vardy? It looks to me as though he stacks up reasonably well against Conor Sammon just now.)

Before the Wigan game we had broken through the glass ceiling to sit in 2nd place but now The Rams find themselves six points behind second placed Burnley, and five behind third placed QPR.

The good news is that we are six points ahead of seventh placed Reading. Also, with Brighton now in sixth place, our form against the other top six teams has improved a bit: Leicester (twice), Burnley, QPR and Forest have beaten us but we have beaten Brighton, who we play again at home on Saturday.

Trying to focus on the bright side, it's not likely that SM will continue with the same midfield trio for the time being, meaning we may see a recall for John Eustace. Plus, all going well with their respective injuries, Richard Keogh & Johnny Russell could be back in the picture before long.

Adding to what some may see as relentless optimism; its still January so we may yet see more signings heading this way. Something that might help avoid the Rams sagging in the middle of the season, especially if McClaren can add one or two more gems, in the same way he did with Wisdom at the start of his tenure.

Certainly things are not looking as good they did just a couple of weeks ago, when the sky seemed to be the limit, but in saying that, neither has that sky fallen in just yet.

We have to negotiate another couple of not-so-easy games against Brighton and Blackburn, but between there and the end of February there are quite a few points waiting to be picked up.

Yes, we sometimes look lightweight and lacking in pace.

Yes, we still let in the occasional (or not so occasional at Leicester) boneheaded goal.

No, Chris Martin is not looking quite as certain to be a twenty goals per season striker.

But we remain well placed.

We are looking a much better team than just a little while ago.

There ought to be a little bit of cash to spend and we have a manager who so far seems to knows what he is doing.

Yes, i'm definitely a little deflated.

Perhaps more than a little.

But it was not so long ago that the playoffs were a speck against the far distant horizon. Now they are most certainly not - they still remain a reality.

The simplest solution is to get back to winning ways against Brighton, which hopefully would mean I will need to reassess once again.

Photo: Action Images

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