Crystal Palace 3-1 Nottingham Forest

Kamada 41'                        Ndoye 3'

Lerma 45+4'                       

Pino 59'

There was never a rivalry between Forest and Crystal Palace until last season. Palace were demoted to the Conference League after not meeting multi-club ownership rules and Forest were the beneficiaries, taking their place in the Europa League. This summer, Glasner left the Eagles and made the switch to Nottingham. The final nail in the coffin was the Reds signing one of Palace’s best players in recent years, Daniel Munoz. Who would get the bragging rights today?

After 3 weeks off due to the international break, the Premier League was finally back with the Reds making the trip to South London. Last time out, Forest were embarrassingly beaten 1-0 at home to newly promoted Coventry City. Their away form has been strong however, with their one win so far this season coming at Villa Park. This extends their run to losing just one of their last seven away games, a statistic going back to last season. On his return to Selhurst Park, Glasner named just one change as Aina replaced Cunha. Palace’s last game saw them draw 0-0 away at Leeds. Just like their visitors, they have also only won once this season, when they beat Fulham 3-2 last month. This is their only win in 12 games. In hope to change this, Pierre Sage named Lerma in the side to replace the injured Tomiyasu.

Palace haven’t won in 12 topflight meetings with Forest- the most they have faced a side without winning. This is also the most Forest have played an opponent without losing in the competition. The last time the Eagles got a victory over the Reds was back in 2011, when both sides were in the Championship.

This run looked to be extending for Forest as they took the lead in just 3 minutes. From deep into his own half, Aina played a diagonal ball, looking for Ndoye. Khalaili looked to be dealing with it, heading it down for one of his teammates. Instead, he played it straight into the path of Ndoye who broke away into the box, one-on-one with the ‘keeper. He let fly from around 15 yards out and the effort nestled into the bottom right corner.

Looking for an immediate response, Palace drove forward themselves. The ball ended up with Khalaili on the right who whipped in a first time cross. It bounced on its way in but Strand Larsen got there as it flew back up, extending his leg to poke it towards goal. Luckily for Forest, Sels was alert to palm it away before Murillo’s block, as Strand Larsen looked to put it in on the rebound from a tight angle, made sure the ball was cleared behind for the corner.

From this point, Forest had chance after chance after chance as the Palace defence looked all over the place. Gibbs-White won the ball back deep into the host’s half on the right. Aina picked up the loose ball before playing it back out to the Englishman. He drove towards the byline before lofting a cross towards the back post where Ndoye was waiting but he could only head straight at Benitez who tipped it behind. The Reds were so dominant it was really going to come back to bite them if they didn’t start taking their chances. However, once again, it was the Palace ‘keeper keeping his side in the game. On a quick attack, the ball ended up with Munoz on the top right corner of the box before finding Gibbs-White to the left of him. He rolled the ball forward before taking a shot at goal. Unexpectedly, the ball looped onto the crossbar. But the attack still wasn’t dead. Delap came in running for the rebound, lashing it at goal on the volley as it came back down. Unfortunately for him, he had hit it straight at Benitez who had just got back up. Anywhere else and he would’ve scored!

After all these missed chances, Forest would be kicking themselves as the hosts went up the other end and scored just four minutes before the 45 minute mark. The Eagles played some one touch football around the edge of the box before the ball ended up with Timber on the penalty spot. He flicked it behind him for Kamada who was in a better position. The Japanese composed himself before lifting it over Sels, who was on the floor, to find the equaliser and his first Premier League goal for Palace.

Despite their domination until the equaliser, Forest found themselves holding on before half time. Richards’ long throw from the left was eventually headed clear by the visitors, landing at the feet of Mitchell 30 yards out. He struck it on the volley, forcing Sels to tip it over the bar. Wharton whipped in the resulting corner from the right and it was headed in at the back post by an unmarked Lerma from close range, bouncing through the legs of Sels. The Reds wouldn’t be happy after seeing it on replay; Lerma looked to have headed it onto the elbow of Khalaili, meaning the goal shouldn’t have counted. However, VAR deemed there not to be conclusive enough evidence to disallow it. That concluded a half full of chaos. Palace were somehow going into the break with the lead, despite Forest having six big chances.

The opening of the second half continued the story of the afternoon. In the first ten minutes, Forest had already registered four shots as well as nearly being helped by an own goal which hit Benitez on the line. Yet despite this, they found themselves another goal down. Palace won the ball back deep into the Forest half after Gibbs-White was dispossessed. Timber was running towards goal and looked to play Pino in down the left of the box. However, the ball bounced off McAtee and instead landed into the path of Strand Larsen on the penalty spot. He turned and got a shot off but Sels had rushed off his line to make the save. Luckily for Palace, the rebound landed at Pino’s feet and he rolled it over the line from the top left corner of the six yard box.

The visitors tried to get themselves back into the game but they just continued to be wasteful. Ndoye was one-on-one after a long ball from Sels and hit into the side netting and Williams’ effort from the edge of the box bobbled just wide of the left post. The chance that really went begging fell to Wood. Gibbs-White danced down the right wing before delivering a cross into the box where Wood was arriving. He had a free header six yards from goal and still managed to head it straight at Benitez.

Forest couldn’t get back into it, with only themselves to blame. They welcome Arsenal to the City Ground next Sunday, hoping to improve on their home form whilst Palace have a trip to Lyon on Thursday in the Europa League.

Sunday was such a frustrating watch. We were so dominant in that first half and could’ve been 4 or 5 nil up yet we went into the break losing which made it hard for ourselves in the second half. The goals we conceded also were defensively poor and could’ve been avoided so we’re the only ones at fault. I think this reflects on how we are missing Milenkovic’s leadership skills at the back as we look more shaky without him. Although he missed some chances, I thought Ndoye had a good game and he was our major bright spark. I hope we take some confidence in the attacking performance we put out into the Arsenal game.

Forest: Sels; Murillo, Diomande, Aina (Kalimuendo 83'); Williams, Schlager (Sangare 66'), McAtee, Munoz; Gibbs-White, Ndoye (Hudson-Odoi 72'); Delap (Wood 72')

Crystal Palace: Benitez; Canvot, Richards, Lerma (Ahanor 72'); Mitchell, Timber, Wharton, Khalaili; Pino (Sarr 83'), Kamada (McNeil 90'); Strand Larsen (Nketiah 83')