Forest Vs Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace, winless after seven matches in the 2024-25 Premier League season, head into their next fixture on Monday night with hopes of finally breaking their streak as they take on a Nuno Espirito Santo-less Nottingham Forest. The match at the City Ground will see two sides with contrasting fortunes, but both desperate to end their respective winless runs.

Nottingham Forest managed to secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Chelsea just before the international break, a performance that showed their resilience. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace were narrowly beaten 1-0 by high-flying Liverpool, adding to their early-season woes.

Nottingham Forest: A Battling Side Seeking Stability

Forest’s visit to Stamford Bridge two weeks ago saw them produce a commendable defensive display against Chelsea, a team known for their attacking prowess. For much of the game, Forest's defenders stifled the likes of Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling, denying them clear-cut opportunities. In the 48th minute, Chris Wood sent the traveling Forest supporters into ecstasy by scoring the game’s opening goal, seemingly putting a West London upset on the cards. However, Forest’s joy was short-lived, as Chelsea responded swiftly, leveling the match just eight minutes later through Noni Madueke.

Despite a spirited effort, the sending-off of James Ward-Prowse for handball left Forest with just 10 men. Chelsea relentlessly pressed forward, but Forest's defense held firm, with Robert Sanchez and Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels producing outstanding performances to keep the scoreline intact. Both keepers made a series of vital saves as the match wore on into a marathon 105 minutes, leaving Forest with a well-earned point but extending their winless run to three games.

Despite their struggles to secure victories, Forest have lost only once in their opening seven Premier League matches this season, drawing the majority of their encounters. This resilience has left them in 12th place in the standings, a respectable position considering their recent challenges. However, Forest will be without their head coach, Nuno Espirito Santo, for their next three matches. The Portuguese manager was handed a two-game touchline ban following improper conduct during their game against Brighton & Hove Albion, which also activated a previously suspended one-match ban. As a result, Santo will be a notable absentee as Forest look to improve their home form.

The Tricky Trees have struggled at the City Ground in recent months. Their last seven home games across all competitions have failed to produce a victory, with Forest’s loyal supporters growing increasingly anxious for their team to secure three points on home turf. Not since 2012 have they endured a winless streak of eight games or more at the City Ground, a statistic they will be desperate to avoid repeating. However, Forest’s defensive resilience offers hope; only Liverpool have conceded fewer goals (two) than Forest's six this season, proving that while victories have been elusive, they are not easy to break down.

Crystal Palace: Searching for a Way Out of Early-Season Turmoil

In stark contrast, Crystal Palace have had a dismal start to the 2024-25 season under new manager Oliver Glasner. After finishing last season in remarkable fashion by picking up 19 points from their final seven matches, Palace looked set to carry that form into the new campaign. Unfortunately, things have not gone according to plan, and they now find themselves winless in their first seven games of the season—a far cry from the Palace side that ended last season on a high.

Their recent outings have only added to the misery. Palace followed a 2-1 loss to Everton—where they were undone by the brilliance of Dwight McNeil—with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool on October 5. Diogo Jota’s goal was enough to secure the win for the league leaders, leaving Palace in the relegation zone, sitting 18th with just four points from seven games.

Despite their struggles, Palace’s defense has been one of the brighter aspects of their game. The Eagles have conceded just 10 goals this season, the best defensive record among teams currently in the bottom six of the Premier League table. However, their issues lie at the other end of the pitch, where they have struggled to find the back of the net. With just five goals scored in their opening seven games, Palace currently hold the worst attacking record in the league. It’s a sharp decline for a team that finished last season full of attacking verve.

While their overall scoring record is poor, three of Palace's five goals have come on the road, and they are on a six-game scoring streak in Premier League away matches. Their last away defeat without finding the back of the net came in a 1-0 loss to Bournemouth back in April, and Glasner will be hoping his side can build on that away goal-scoring form as they travel to Nottingham.

The historical precedent is not in Palace's favor either. The last time they went winless in their first eight league matches of a season was in the 1992-93 campaign—a season that ended in relegation for the Eagles. To add to their concerns, Palace have not beaten Nottingham Forest in their last seven meetings, with Forest winning two and the other five ending in draws. The last time Palace triumphed over Forest was back in December 2011, with Glenn Murray scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory.

Tactical and Key Battles

Heading into this crucial encounter, both teams will need to address their respective weaknesses to emerge victorious. Nottingham Forest’s defensive solidity has been one of their key assets this season, but they have struggled to turn draws into wins. Chris Wood’s ability to convert limited chances into goals has been a lifeline for Forest in their quest to move up the table, and his physical presence will again be crucial if Forest are to break down Palace’s backline.

On the other side, Crystal Palace have been stifled creatively. The loss of key players in the attacking department has hampered their ability to create and finish chances. Oliver Glasner’s tactical adjustments have not yet yielded the attacking fluidity he would have hoped for, and without a recognized goal scorer stepping up, Palace’s struggles in front of goal look set to continue.

Midfield will be a key battleground in this match. Forest’s midfield trio of Ibrahim Sangaré, Ryan Yates, and Morgan Gibbs-White will need to control the tempo of the game and ensure that Forest can dictate play at home, particularly with their manager absent from the touchline. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, will look to break up play and launch quick counter-attacks, with Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise providing the creativity needed to unlock Forest’s defense.

Prediction and Conclusion

With both teams struggling for form and desperate for a win, this match could be a tense affair. Forest will benefit from their home crowd, but the absence of Nuno Espirito Santo on the touchline could be a significant factor in their performance. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, are in dire need of points and will be aiming to use their away form as a springboard for success. However, their lack of goals remains a major concern.

Both teams are likely to adopt a cautious approach, focusing on not conceding rather than taking too many risks in attack. With the defensive records of both sides, a low-scoring draw seems the most likely outcome. Nevertheless, with Chris Wood in fine form for Forest and Palace’s attackers struggling, Forest may just edge the contest with a solitary goal. Expect a tight, hard-fought game, with Forest potentially emerging 1-0 winners.

In the broader context of the Premier League season, a win for either side could provide a vital boost. For Forest, three points would lift them further up the table and ease some of the pressure from their recent winless run. For Palace, a first victory of the season would be a huge morale boost and could spark a turnaround in their fortunes as they look to climb out of the relegation zone.