NOTTINGHAM Forest will end their away day hoodoo – once they start converting their numerous chances.

That was the confident message today from Reds boss Billy Davies, as his side travel to Reading hoping to bring an end to a run of 12 away games – stretching back to a 1-0 defeat at Derby in January – without a win in the Championship.

Forest suffered a 1-0 loss on the opening day of the new campaign at Burnley. But Davies is convinced that the Reds are playing well – and that the simple addition of some cutting edge will get them back to the kind of form that saw them go 19 games unbeaten prior to that Pride Park reversal.

"It would be nice to get that hoodoo broken, with the way things are going for us away from home," said Davies.

"The performances have generally been quite good, we have deserved a lot more.

"But, for whatever reason, we have not picked up the breaks away from home that we deserved.

"The problem is clearly that we have lacked a little quality and composure in front of goal, which would help us to kill teams off.

"If we can take our chances, we will be fine.

"And I am sure we will create a lot of chances with the players we have got."

Davies says Forest do not need to change their approach or their attitude as they prepare for a trip to the Madejski Stadium.

"The approach is still very much the same, we have not changed anything in training," he said. "It has not been a (mental) problem, I would not say. When you are playing well and putting teams under pressure, it is not a problem. You just try to keep doing what you have been doing."

Davies does admit, however, that the spectre of speculation will continue to be a distraction until the transfer window closes at the end of the month, as he looks to end his traditional managerial habit of making a slow start to the campaign.

"You can do your job when you have a recognised group of players ready to work together," he said. "At the moment there are still ten days left until the transfer window closes and there are still comings and goings, possibly.

"There is lots of disruption with regard to speculation."

Davies says there has been no further contact from West Ham over keeper Paul Smith, following his trial at Upton Park.

"We have heard nothing about it," he said. "He is back with us. We just have to wait and see what develops."