English Premier
2026-02-01 - Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 1st February 2025 - Kick Off 2pm
This game is live on TV
Nottingham Forest
The defeat in Portugal on Match Day 7 meant Nottingham Forest were almost certainly going to be playing in the Europa League Play Off Round in February. Even the 4-0 win on Thursday against Ferencvaros was not able to change that fate for Sean Dyche's team and the manager is under some pressure to find some consistency in the performances as Nottingham Forest continue to fight on two fronts.
Some reports suggested another managerial change would take place at the City Ground if Nottingham Forest had lost last Sunday, but the team secured a priceless three points at Brentford. The Tricky Trees are 17th in the Premier League table and 5 points clear of West Ham United, while the team have a 3-2-6 record at home in the top flight.
Nottingham Forest had won 1 of the previous 8 games in all competitions before the trip to Brentford, but consecutive wins with clean sheets should have given the entire squad a lift. The side crushed Ferencvaros 4-0 at home on Thursday, but have not won any of the last 3 home Premier League games. Nottingham Forest had lost twice in a row here before the goalless draw with Arsenal in the most recent Premier League fixture played at the City Ground.
John Victor has been ruled out for the season, while both Nicolo Savona and Chris Wood are expected to miss out. Elliot Anderson is available after serving a European suspension, while the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Morgan Gibbs-White should be restored to the starting eleven.
Crystal Palace
After once again voicing his discontent in a post-match interview, some believed it was a matter of time before Oliver Glasner would depart as manager of Crystal Palace. He is going to leave at the end of the season regardless, but there is a growing feeling that the departure could happen before that if Crystal Palace cannot find a way to improve the form.
At one stage of the season, Crystal Palace looked more than capable of earning a second campaign in European Football, but they have slumped to 15th in the Premier League table and 8 points above the relegation zone. The Eagles have a 5-1-5 away record in the top flight where they have scored and conceded 13 goals.
Crystal Palace were beaten last Sunday and they have not won any of the last 11 games played in all competitions, while being on the wrong end of a defeat 7 times in that run. They scored first at Sunderland in the most recent away Premier League fixture, but Crystal Palace were beaten and have lost 4 of the last 5 away games in all competitions. During that time they have been embarrassingly beaten at non-League Macclesfield in the FA Cup Third Round.
Adam Wharton is suspended, while Nathaniel Clyne and Daichi Kamada are doubts. Reports have suggested that Jean-Philippe Mateta will be allowed to leave the club if Crystal Palace can find a replacement and Nottingham Forest are very keen to sign the Frenchman. All of that leaves his availability in doubt.
Head to Head
Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest shared a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park in the reverse fixture.
That result means 5 of the last 6 between these clubs have ended with the points shared.
The exception is the last game hosted by Nottingham Forest, which was won 1-0 by the home team.
Nottingham Forest have won 2 of the 3 home games played against Crystal Palace since returning to the top flight.
Prediction
There isn't much love lost between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest with the former convinced that their place in the Europa League was demoted largely down to actions of the latter.
Despite that, reports indicate that the teams are discussing the transfer of Jean-Philippe Mateta from Selhurst Park to the City Ground.
His availability is a question mark, but Crystal Palace will not make any decision about the striker's future until after this game is played on Sunday.
Oliver Glasner has to be hugely frustrated with how the last two months of the season have gone for his Crystal Palace team- losses in 7 of the last 11 games in all competitions have included exits in both domestic Cup competitions, while The Eagles are now 'only' 8 points clear of the relegation zone.
The positive news after the latest loss is that Ismaila Sarr and Daniel Munoz are both back in action and those have been influential players missing a lot of time. Both make Crystal Palace a lot stronger and they will certainly offer an attacking threat when visiting the City Ground.
At the same time, Sean Dyche has to be expect his Nottingham Forest team to cause problems for an away defence that has only recently lost Marc Guehi.
It has been an important week for Nottingham Forest who have earned consecutive wins for the first time in over a month. Keeping clean sheets in those wins over Brentford and Ferencvaros has to give the entire team a lift as Nottingham Forest look to pull away from West Ham United, while dragging Crystal Palace back into a relegation battle.
The Tricky Trees have been set as favourites, but they look vulnerable in that spot, despite the results of the last seven days.
Underlying numbers suggest Crystal Palace have been more deserving of positive results rather than the defeats and setbacks that have piled up. Last week they had some big chances against Chelsea before the away team took the lead, and this Nottingham Forest team are still far from being convincing in Premier League settings.
Neither team looks particularly trustworthy, but Nottingham Forest look especially short.
Games between the clubs have been very tight and competitive in recent seasons with 5 of the last 6 ending in draws and another stalemate would not be the biggest surprise.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace
