Key occasions
17 min: Two big probabilities for Chris Wooden! The striker is first denied from a nook on the again submit by a last-ditch goalline clearance, and hacked clear by Munoz. The ball is recycled, Anderson selecting the ball up in loads of house, and he delivers a Beckham-esque deep cross on a dime for Wooden, who heads huge. Oooooh, you’d count on him to place that away, however the New Zealander mistimed his diving header.
15 min: Anderson with some fast ft that will make Di Maria blush! The previous Newcastle man twice dances by Palace tackles, the latter expertly previous Munoz and Hughes, earlier than forcing Henderson right into a save. Wow, genuinely haven’t seen dribbling like that shortly.
13 min: In fact, simply as I say that, Hudson-Odoi breaks a deal with, will get to the byline however his in the reduction of to Yates was simply behind the midfielder, and the transfer fizzles out. Hudson-Odoi could have been offside, however that was higher from Forest.
12 min: First actual spell of possession for Forest, who haven’t created something of notice.
9min: Kamada is the following to strive his luck from vary, however the Japanese loses his stability as he strikes it, and it’s a tame effort. Yates and Dominguez, the 2 sitting Forest midfielders are struggling to familiarize yourself with Palace’s two attacking creators, Eze and Kamada.
6 min: An early reserving for Lerma, who dragged again Elanga. That could be a irritating yellow card for the combative Palace midfielder, who will now have to observe his step.
5 min: Shut from Eze! The England worldwide cuts in from the best flank and drives straight at objective. Milenkovic retreats all the way in which to his 18-yard field with out placing a glove on the Palace man, who shifts the ball and shoots simply huge of the highest nook! Oooooo, that was shut. Sels was rooted to the spot and should have breathed a sigh of aid to see it fly simply previous the upright.
2 min: Aina at proper again is a tidy little participant for Forest. He’s lightning fast, too, and has to cope with the twin risk of Kamada as a floating playmaker simply inside him and Mitchell, who will likely be trying to push up from left wing-back.
Peeeeeeep! And we’re off. Forest of their well-known pink and white, Palace in an all-yellow quantity.
The groups are out! Attention-grabbing to see what kind of reception Dean Henderson will get tonight in objective. He had a mortgage spell at Forest a few seasons in the past.
Forest appear like they’re lining up in a 4-2-3-1. It will likely be fascinating to see who fills in for Gibbs-White within the No 10 function. Each Anderson (performing as a form of all-action Scott McTominay-style playmaker) and Dominguez are able to taking part in there.
Nuno speaks:
We’re lacking some gamers however the squad is able to go. Palace are a troublesome crew. I don’t see any positives in being up within the stands [for this game]. I’ll be speaking with my workers.
Attention-grabbing to see Nketiah begin forward of Mateta, who was on hearth for Palace on the again finish of final season and one of many gamers of the event on the Olympics for France in the summertime, however already seems to be fatigued … and it’s October. Nketiah has typically (and maybe a bit of surprisingly) been deployed as a large ahead however will get his likelihood within the centre tonight.
Forest have a bodily robust duo in Milenkovic and Murillo, who would have been anticipating a battle with Mateta. Nketiah will hope to drop deep, drag Milenkovic and Murillo out of place, after which discover some house within the field to complete instinctively.
The groups!
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Alex Moreno, Yates, Dominguez, Elanga, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi, Wooden.
Subs: Boly, Sosa, Jota Silva, Toffolo, Omobamidele, Awoniyi, Williams, Morato, Carlos Miguel.
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Lacroix, Guehi, Chalobah, Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell, Kamada, Eze, Nketiah.
Subs: Matthews, Ward, Sarr, Mateta, Schlupp, Clyne, Wharton, Kporha, Agbinone.
Preamble
We’re seven video games into the season and nonetheless no person is any of the wiser as to what these groups are, or the place they may end. Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace might feasibly each end within the high half come Might 2025, or might simply be relegated and most of the people would simply shrug and suppose ‘yep, is smart’.
Palace completed final season like a practice below Oliver Glasner, with Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton all starring below the Austrian supervisor. However this time round, Olise is departed, Eze is woefully out of shape and Wharton, battling a groin damage picked up over the summer season on the Euros, has but to search out the shape or health that noticed him included on the latest ‘Golden Boy’ list. New signings Maxence Lacroix and Eddie Nketiah are proficient however have to date did not fill the voids left by Joachim Andersen and (whisper it) Jordan Ayew. However the reality is that Glasner, together with the remainder of us, are nonetheless attempting to determine what goes improper.
Forest are one other conundrum. Very mediocre residence kind and wonderful away kind (4 matches that embody a win at Anfield and Southampton and attracts at Chelsea and Brighton) imply Nuno Espírito Santo’s facet might spring into eighth with a victory tonight.
Any win will likely be with out their talisman, Morgan Gibbs-White (who’s suspended for his pink card towards Brighton), supervisor Nuno (who’s serving the primary of a three-match suspension for his response to that pink card) and a stadium ban for proprietor Evangelos Marinakis (who was discovered responsible of improper conduct following Forest’s defeat towards Fulham in September).
That mentioned, the Metropolis Floor below the lights at all times enjoyable, particularly with Huge Chris Wooden main the road. Vibes are excessive within the east Midlands. Do be part of me for the 8pm BST kick-off. I’ve completely no thought what will occur.