Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Kenny Jackett is delighted to see his side now have their destiny in their own hands after they brushed aside the challenge of relegation-threatened Notts County to secure a fifth successive Sky Bet League 1 win.
Michael Jacobs struck in each half to secure a 2-0 victory and cement Wolves' position in second place ahead of a huge encounter next weekend against leaders Brentford.
Jackett said: "After 30 games we have got 64 points and that is a very good total so far.
"It puts us in a good position where in the last 16 games it is in our hands.
"We have to win a certain amount of games, it is hard to tell how many, but we are not necessarily playing catch-up with too many teams. We haven't got a 10-point gap and are looking for other teams to slip up.
"It is in our hands and up to us to continue our form and keep doing well.
"It would be nice if we could turn one of these wins into a more emphatic one in terms of the scoreline and that has to be our aim but the consistency of the side is very good at present.
"Five wins on the trot and 64 points from 30 games at any standard does show some quality and a good level of consistency with the players."
A win at Brentford would see Wolves take over as leaders, and Jackett added: "The Brentford game is one to look forward to.
"We have to be enthusiastic right now and we are really looking forward to that game, all of us.
"We are looking forward to the challenge as it is a big challenge for us.
"The stakes are high and we are desperate to be successful this season. Looking at it we have a very good opportunity to do that."
Jacobs broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when his header flew past goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski after Scott Golbourne had delivered a pin-point cross following some neat play by Bakary Sako.
Callum McGregor then squandered an excellent chance to equalise as he failed to hit the target when well placed.
Bialkowski kept rampant Wolves at bay prior to half-time by twice denying Sako before Jacobs broke his resistance from 25 yards in the 54th minute.
The defeat, County's fourth in five games, leaves then rooted in the relegation zone and manager Shaun Derry admitted he was disappointed with the performance of his team.
County had beaten Coventry in their previous game, and Derry said: "When you come to Molineux, with the size and structure of the club, you don't want to let yourself down.
"I wouldn't say we let ourselves down but I was very disappointed in terms of how we played against Coventry and how we played here. That is what disappoints me more than anything.
"We could have played as well as we possibly could and still lost the game.
"But I felt that we didn't play as well as we could which is disappointing."
Despite the latest setback, Derry remains upbeat about County's survival hopes with a number of games coming up against their rivals in the battle to beat the drop.
He added: "They will be defining games. I am definitely looking at the bottom eight and nine teams, the guys we have to play between now and the end of the season, they will be the teams who define where we stand.
"We have got a big month coming up soon with four or five of them and at the end of those games it will give you a clearer indication of where you will be.
"I am confident because the guys are disappointed to lose to Wolves and they are demanding more from themselves which is encouraging."