The Football League season this year begins on the South Coast as Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Nottingham Forest to The Amex on Friday night.
Both sides had underwhelming campaigns last term and will be keen to kickstart their 2015-16 term with a win.
Brighton
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Brighton had it good for six years, making constant improvement and moving up through the leagues before last season's disappointing 20th-place finish.
It did not work out for ex-Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia in his first managerial job back in England and it was left to Chris Hughton to keep the Seagulls' second-tier status intact.
The former Norwich boss managed to do so, but there were plenty of problems, especially in attack. After the sale of Leonardo Ulloa to Leicester City, the South Coast club's forwards scored just 16 of their 44 goals, while their defenders netted 15.
That has led to the arrival of Tomer Hemed and the return of Bobby Zamora, while Sam Baldock will be expected to find the net with more regularity after doing so just four times in his debut Seagulls season.
After not winning any of their final seven league matches to end last season, Brighton have suffered just one defeat in pre-season and on Sunday rounded off their summer friendlies with a 1-0 win over Europa League champions Sevilla.
The Seagulls' recent form on the opening day of the season is poor - they have lost their curtain-raiser the last three years.
Pre-season form: DWWLWW
Forest
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It was always going so well for Forest under club legend Stuart Pearce at the start of last season. They went 12 games unbeaten before a nosedive in form that led to the end of Pearce in January.
Another former player, Dougie Freedman, came in and he, like Pearce, got off to a flying start, winning six of his first seven games to give supporters faint hope of a late charge back into the top six.
However, a run of nine games without a win to end the campaign saw Forest drop into the bottom half as they finished 14th and 19 points adrift of the playoff places.
A transfer embargo has restricted their summer business, but they have still been able to bring in solid free transfers in Jamie Ward and Matt Mills without yet losing any key players like Henri Lansbury or Michail Antonio.
One thing Forest did show last season was that they can recover from being behind - the Tricky Trees salvaged more points from losing positions than any other Championship side last season (27).
While Brighton have struggled in recent times on the first weekend of the campaign, Forest have won their last three season openers.
The East Midlands side also have one of the most watertight defences on the opening day - they have conceded just one goal in their last nine games.
Pre-season form: DLWDDD
Team News
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Only five teams let in fewer goals than Brighton last season and the formidable centre-back partnership of Gordon Greer and Lewis Dunk remains. The duo might have new full-backs either side of them with Liam Rosenior and Gaetan Bong in line to start.
With Zamora only arriving this week, it is more likely that Hemed and Baldock will start this match in attack, especially as they have worked well as a double act in pre-season.
Forest's number-one spot is up for grabs with Karl Darlow back at parent club Newcastle, and both Ben Hamer and Dorus de Vries will feel that they should start between the sticks.
Arguably Forest's best two players, Andy Reid and Britt Assombalonga remain injured for the start of the season, so the likes of Lansbury and Antonio will need to step up and contribute goals from midfield. Club captain Chris Cohen is also struggling with a long-term knee problem.
Freedman also has four strong centre-back candidates in Mills, Kelvin Wilson, Michael Mancienne and Jack Hobbs. Mills and Wilson started Forest's final pre-season affair - a 3-3 draw with Aston Villa - and might get the nod here.
Brighton possible starting lineup:
Stockdale; Rosenior, Greer, Dunk, Bong; Calderon, Stephens, Kayal, LuaLua; Hemed, Baldock
Forest possible starting lineup:
De Vries; Lichaj, Mills, Wilson, Pinillos; Tesche, Lansbury, Osborn; Ward, Blackstock, Antonio
Head To Head
Brighton did not manage to beat Forest in either meeting last year. The first encounter last season was at the City Ground when Forest gave up top spot with a goalless draw at home.
The last match at The Amex in February was a five-goal game that Forest edged 3-2. Brighton took the lead shortly before half time, but Forest then went 3-1 in front before Beram Kayal's late consolation.
Brighton's recent record against the Tricky Trees is not great - they have won just one of the last seven encounters.
We say: Brighton 1-1 Forest
Brighton's surprise defeat at home on the opening day to Sheffield Wednesday set the tone for a poor 2014-15 season, so the Seagulls will be keen to impress at The Amex. Forest will provide a stern test, though, and a cagey affair might ensure, with both teams keen to avoid a losing start.
Pascal Lemesre
