City defender Jack Hobbs believes "the blip" is over just in time for the festive programme.

The recovery of 3-0 over Sheffield Wednesday last time out went some way to repairing the damage of two successive defeats.

Jack said: "I hope 'the blip' is over, I really think so. We didn't turn up at Forest. Against Bristol City, I thought we were a bit unlucky because we played well and it was just two wonder goals that killed us off. Every team has a blip and if that is out blip then I'll take it and we will be back to winning ways."

The Boxing Day clash with in-form Sheffield United would be a great follow-up and then the trip to improving Doncaster in Monday could underline that, but Hobbs warned: "They are tough games. Sheffield have been in good form and have moved up the table. They are chasing a play-off place themselves, so it would be nice to win and put a little bit of a gap between them and us.

"Doncaster are a decent side, a good footballing side and have also been doing well. We seem to be playing teams who are on a good run but we are looking forward to it."

"Overall we have done all right. If you speak to the lads they would feel we should be higher and as we are in the play-off position, that is credit to the team.

"I think we are a really solid group, a real unit and it has shown in most games where we have been hard to break down. It is something to build on."