Nottingham Forest is going head to head with Crystal Palace starting on 21 Oct 2024 at 19:00 UTC at City Ground stadium, Nottingham city, England.
It has been a dreadful start to the campaign for Crystal Palace, who entered the season with plenty of optimism under new manager Oliver Glasner. After seven games, they sit in 18th place with just three points. They have yet to taste victory this year, suffering four defeats, including two in a row. However, they have picked up draws against Chelsea and Man United, though have found it very difficult to build momentum.
They are hosted by a Nottingham Forest side who have enjoyed a much better start. Looking to maintain their top flight status for another year, they currently are in 10th place. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side had gone the first five games of the season unbeaten before they were defeated by Fulham. They responded well to take a draw away at Chelsea last time out.
The departure of Michael Olise over the summer has seen Palace struggle going forward. More of the responsibility now rests on the shoulders of Eberechi Eze, and so far he has failed to deliver. As a team, Palace have scored just five goals this season, only Southampton have recorded fewer. It does not get any easier at the weekend as they face a Forest defence who have conceded just six goals. This is the second-best figure in the league. They have only conceded more than one goal in a game once. That being said, Forest are yet to win a game at home, with two draws and a loss.
As good as they are defensively, Forest are not as potent going forward. They have some dangerous players, but have scored just seven goals. Chris Wood will be the main man to watch out for as he leads the way with four goals. Morgan Gibbs-White’s absence is a huge blow for the home side as he is a key member in their midfield. Palace have kept one clean sheet in the league all season, so it could be an opportunity for both sides to enjoy some attacking success.
There has been very little to split these two sides in recent seasons. The pair have met four times in the Premier League since 2022, with the last three games ending in a draw. Forest won the first meeting 1-0 at home. Last season, they played a goalless draw at Selhurst Park, before a 1-1 in the reverse fixture.
Team news
For Nottingham Forest, their recent transfer business has been characterised by a new recruitment model that sees them focus on signing talented but energetic players. Carlos Miguel, Marko Stamenic, Eric da Silva Moreira, Elliot Anderson and Nikola Milenkovic have thus joined this summer.
Indeed, they are set to remain busy as they also want Gremio youngster Gustavo Nunes and are reportedly interested in signing the out-of-contract Kelechi Iheanacho. Third-choice goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos has been sold to Newcastle but more departures are expected before the transfer window closes.
Michael Olise is the high-profile departure from Palace so far but James Tomkins, Jairo Riedewald and Nathan Ferguson have also departed after their contracts expired.
Hence, the club are set to be active in the transfer window considering more likely exits, and they are eyeing a move for Ismaila Sarr after a season at Marseille, the Senegalese winger offers bags of Premier League experience and he will represent a quality addition to the ranks.
Prediction
The Reds are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League meetings with Palace which is their longest unbeaten streak against an opponent as well as the Eagles’ longest winless run against another Premier League team.
After three consecutive draws, this game is finely poised for one of the sides to step up and claim a vital win at the start of the campaign. I’m tipping Forest to pick up their first home win of the season against a toothless Palace.
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Crystal Palace