Forest's First Three Games

Three wins from their opening three games has seen Nottingham Forest rocket to the top of the table. It's been a refreshing change a club that has often started slowly in recent years, particularly with Billy Davies at the helm. I wondered how this season really compared to those previous and how Forest have performed after both slow and fast starts.

Looking through the data, it's clear that a slow start rarely means a relegation battle. The 2009/2010 season is a great example of this. Forest only took one point from the opening three game, but went on to finish third. Indeed, Forest only won one of their first eight games that season (a 3-2 defeat of local rivals Derby). A strong run at any time in the season can get a club right up in the promotion battle it seems.

I always wondered how Forest might do under Billy Davies with a strong start. They've been nearly men for a number of seasons. Perhaps points in the bag early doors could help see Forest finally back in to the Premier League.

The stats can't predict how the following 43 games will pan out, but Forest have given themselves the best possible start by winning three out of three so far this season.

2013/2014

Championship
Manager: Billy Davies
Home v Huddersfield Win 1-0
Away v Blackburn Win 1-0
Home v Bolton Win 3-0
Points: 9
Scored: 5
Conceded: 0
Final Position: N/A

2012/2013

Championship
Manager: Sean O'Driscoll
Manager: Alex McLeish
Manager: Billy Davies
Home v Bristol City Win 1-0
Away v Huddersfield Draw 1-1
Away v Bolton Draw 2-2
Points: 5
Scored: 4
Conceded: 3
Final Position: 8th

2011/2012

Championship
Manager: Steve McClaren
Manager: Steve Cotterill
Home v Barnsley Draw 0-0
Away v Millwall Loss 2-0
Away v Doncaster Win 1-0
Points: 4
Scored: 1
Conceded: 2
Final Position: 19th

2010/2011

Championship
Manager: Billy Davies
Away v Burnley Loss 1-0
Home v Leeds Draw 1-1
Away v Reading Draw 1-1
Points: 2
Scored: 2
Conceded: 3
Final Position: 6th

2009/2010

Championship
Manager: Billy Davies
Away v Reading Draw 0-0
Home v West Brom Loss 1-0
Home v Watford Loss 4-2
Points: 1
Scored: 2
Conceded: 5
Final Position: 3rd

2008/2009

Championship
Manager: Colin Calderwood
Manager: Billy Davies
Home v Reading Draw 0-0
Away v Swansea Loss 3-1
Home v Watford Win 3-2
Points: 4
Scored: 4
Conceded: 5
Final Position: 19th

2007/2008

League One
Manager: Colin Calderwood
Home v Bournemouth Draw 0-0
Away v Swansea Draw 0-0
Home v Leeds Loss 2-1
Points: 2
Scored: 1
Conceded: 2
Final Position: 2nd

2006/2007

League One
Manager: Colin Calderwood
Home v Bradford Win 1-0
Away v Blackpool Win 2-0
Away v Northampton Win 1-0
Points: 9
Scored: 4
Conceded: 0
Final Position: 4th

2005/2006

League One
Manager: Gary Megson
Manager: Frank Barlow / Ian McParland
Home v Huddersfield Win 2-1
Away v Walsall Loss 3-2
Away v Swindon Loss 2-1
Points: 3
Scored: 5
Conceded: 5
Final Position: 7th

2004/2005

Championship
Manager: Joe Kinnear
Manager: Gary Megson
Away v Wigan Draw 1-1
Home v Ipswich Draw 1-1
Home v Crewe Draw 2-2
Points: 3
Scored: 4
Conceded: 4
Final Position: 23rd

2003/2004

Championship
Manager: Paul Hart
Manager: Joe Kinnear
Home v Sunderland Win 2-0
Away v Reading Loss 3-0
Home v Cardiff Win 2-1
Points: 6
Scored: 4
Conceded: 4
Final Position: 14th

2002/2003

Championship
Manager: Paul Hart
Away v Portsmouth Loss 2-0
Home v Preston Draw 2-2
Home v Sheffield Wednesday Win 4-0
Points: 4
Scored: 6
Conceded: 4
Final Position: 6th

2001/2002

Championship
Manager: Paul Hart
Home v Sheffield United Draw 1-1
Away v Barnsley Loss 2-1
Home v Crystal Palace Win 4-2
Points: 4
Scored: 6
Conceded: 5
Final Position: 16th

2000/2001

Championship
Manager: David Platt
Home v West Brom Win 1-0
Away v Norwich Draw 0-0
Home v Birmingham Loss 2-1
Points: 4
Scored: 2
Conceded: 2
Final Position: 11th