Nottingham Forest face a tough opening month of the season as they look to go one better than last year and live up to their billing as 9/1 second favourites to win the Championship. Newly-relegated Burnley and a Reading side who ended last season like a train under Brian McDermott are the away trips facing the Reds while both Leeds United and Norwich City will be in buoyant mood for their games at the City Ground after promotion from League One. With Forest once again conspicuous by their absence from the transfer market at the time of writing, some poor results may set alarm bells ringing but a look back to 12 months ago shows that August is not always an indicator for the season ahead. Billy Davies saw his side lose both their opening home games and gain just 2 points from 2 away fixtures and form remained muddling until a victory at Plymouth in late September sparked the unbeaten run that ignited promotion hopes.