Time to test my new approach ... or not

THE beginning of a new football season means a fresh start, a clean slate and an opportunity to rethink your betting strategy.

Except that one of my favourite betting strategies is opposing Nottingham Forest when Andy Reid is out and the likeable playmaker is still sidelined by injury.

Using this website's invaluable Player Filter feature, I've been able to confirm that my admiration for Reid is based on facts and figures rather than some weird man crush.

Two seasons ago, Forest won 47 per cent of the 32 games he played but only 19 per cent of the 21 matches in which he was absent.

Last term, sadly, he made only six appearances, featuring in four wins and two draws – and two of those victories were a 2-1 triumph at champions Bournemouth and a 4-0 drubbing of Reading.

Striker Britt Assombalonga is also making his way back from injury and I've got a sneaky suspicion that Brighton could go well this season, starting with a win tonight.

Hopefully my fresh, new, clean slate isn't immediately defaced by a Forest victory.