Former Nottingham Forest defender Kelvin Wilson says his old club were too ambitious with their expectations for this season.
Forest made 30 signings last season with another 11 over the summer as owner Evangelos Marinakis targetted a top 10 push in the club's second season in the Premier League. Fans meanwhile had hoped for a more attacking style of play, but with one in 12 games, Wilson says staying up is all that matters.
Speaking on Wednesday's Forest Focus podcast, Wilson said his experience of going from playing in the Championship with the Reds to the Champions League with Celtic was a sobering lesson that relates to Forest today in terms of a step up in class.
He said: "I think fans get carried away. Don't run before you can walk sort of thing. Have a few seasons in the Premier League esbablishing yourself and then go from there.
"I think what excites people is the players coming into Forest. They see a club wanting to have a go and improve the team. As a player, you would chat in the changing room and say, for instance, Cardiff are having a right go this year - they've signed nine players.
"Fans will expect more because of the money that's been spent on players. They'll also see the calibre of players. The South American players coming in are good young players and people get excited.
"For me, I've never got carried away. People look at the top six and the top eight but for me, if you can stay outside the relegation zone and build that's a good thing.
"From my experience, a lot of the games last season the fans were so happy and excited it was like a cup game. It was like a Championship team playing a Premier League one every week and that got the players going.
"That's died off this season. Fans are used to being in the Premier League. They want good performances not just to have a good time.
"My experience of going from the Championship to the Champions League with Celtic, until you're on the pitch against these players, that's when it hits home and then when you realise there's levels."
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