A FRUSTRATING final day of last season left Nottingham Forest just short of a play-off place in the Championship – but former England international Dion Dublin has laid down the gauntlet by saying they are capable of beating any side in the division.
The Reds finished just one point outside the top six in eighth place, after losing to Leicester City at the City Ground in their last game.
Dublin thinks they paid the price for inconsistency, but thinks they will once again be challenging towards the top under boss Billy Davies.
They will kick off the new season against Huddersfield at home on August 3.
"They have some great footballers there and when they are on song they should really be beating anyone within their league," he said.
"Their inconsistency means that they haven't had a chance to really do that.
"Forest unfortunately conceded a few late goals at the back-end of last season which didn't help their cause one bit, and that deflated the players and the fans and they found it hard to pick themselves up again.
"Finishing eighth and just outside the play-offs is very frustrating for them and they were a side that were in a good position for most of the season but just fell out of it, out of nowhere."
The Reds have also been drawn at home against League Two Hartlepool United in the first round of the Capital One Cup in a tie that will see former Forest captain Colin Cooper return to the City Ground as Pools' new boss.
"I can only see Nottingham Forest being a little bit too strong for Hartlepool," added Dublin.
"They have got enough to get through this tie. It is something they should win and it will be a full house and everyone will be optimistic."
The Reds were 1-0 victors at League Two Fleetwood Town in the first round of the competition last season, before being knocked out by then-Premier League side Wigan Athletic at the City Ground.
Dublin believes it is a competition that Forest should take seriously, adding that Davies will learn a lot from the approach of his players against Hartlepool.
"This offers a great opportunity for managers to see how badly the players want to play for the club," he said.
"It keeps your season alive, it sounds stupid so early on, but if you do just keep your toe in the water you can nick results in this competition.
"It keeps the players' shoulders pinned back and the fans alive, more revenue comes in for the clubs and there is more interest."
Dion Dublin was speaking on behalf of credit card company Capital One, sponsor of the League Cup.
