Wood hits Forest winner to pile more misery on winless Palace

Crystal Palace’s torrid winless start to the Premier League season was extended to eight matches as Oliver Glasner’s side fell to 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Monday.

After an incredible run of form at the end of the 2023/24 season which saw them win six of their last seven matches, Palace have slumped to a difficult start to the 2024/25 campaign with just three points from eight matches.

But they started the encounter at the City Ground in bright fashion, Eddie Nketiah forcing a save from Matz Sels before clipping the outside of the post with a strike from 25 yards. Eberechi Eze was also inches from opening the scoring with a long-range effort.

Forest soon found their feet and responded with chances of their own, Ryan Yates hitting the base of the post with a header after Elliot Anderson weaved in and out of the box, beating three defenders before having his effort thwarted.

Eze could count himself unlucky once again on the hour mark as his thumping effort from 30 yards was tipped onto the bar by Sels.

And just five minutes later, the hosts found the breakthrough as the in-form Chris Wood latched onto a loose ball with a fantastic, first-time strike from outside the area which wormed its way past Dean Henderson.

Jeffrey Schlupp came closest to levelling the scoring nine minutes from time, but Forest’s tight defence held on to secure their first home win of the season to take them up to eighth in the Premier League table – despite Nuno Espirito Santo’s absence from the touchline as he serves a three-match ban.

Talking Point – Wood on fire to put pay to poor Palace

Nottingham Forest were just one place above the relegation zone last season, and suffered 20 defeats in their entire Premier League campaign. So supporters will have been forgiven for lacking a little optimism heading into the new campaign.

But a full pre-season under Nuno Espirito Santo seems to have worked wonders at the City Ground, exemplified by the excellent form of talisman Chris Wood, supplemented by a sturdy back-line.

Wood grabbed his fifth goal of the season with an instinctual first-time finish in what ended up being the winner against Palace. Forest have only conceded six goals so far in eight matches this season, making these strikes from their main man up front that more crucial.

The defeat in Nottinghamshire just about surmised all that has been wrong with Palace in their start to the season so far. They were seemingly out of ideas against a sturdy Forest defence.

Ultimately, fine margins go a long way in the Premier League. Palace will be rueing the efforts from Eze and Nketiah which clipped the woodwork, as well as Henderson’s mistake in letting Wood’s strike force its way past his outstretched palm.

It is now eight league matches without a win for Glasner’s side – which seems quite unbelievable given the free-flowing football they showcased at the end of the last campaign. Palace need a victory, and fast, as the pressure will grow heavier in the Selhurst Park air.

Player of the Match – Elliot Anderson

The former Newcastle midfielder was an absolute live-wire, and could have had an absolute stunner of a goal after neat trickery and footwork saw him dance past three Palace men in the box before ultimately falling flat.

The 21-year-old was on hand to provide some excellent balls into the box, including the one which Yates headed into the post.

On another day, Anderson certainly could have bagged a goal contribution. But he was integral in orchestrating Forest’s forays forward.

Player Ratings

Nottingham Forest: Sels 7, Aina 7, Milenkovic 6, Murillo 7, Moreno 8, Yates 7, Dominguez 6, Elanga 6, Anderson 9, Hudson-Odoi 7, Wood 7. Subs: Silva 6, Morato 6, Williams 6, Sosa n/a, Awoniyi n/a.

Crystal Palace: Henderson 5, Guehi 6, Lacroix 6, Chalobah 5, Mitchell 5, Lerma 5, Hughes 5, Munoz 6, Eze 7, Kamada 4, Nketiah 6. Subs: Mateta 6, Sarr 5, Schlupp 6, Agbinone n/a.

Match Highlights

20′ NEARLY A WONDER GOAL FROM NKETIAH There would have already been three goal of the month contenders in this opening 20 minutes if they sailed into the back of the net. Alas, we have to settle for another near-miss. Nketiah wins the ball with space to run into. He runs out of options so absolutely unleashes one from 25 yards, it clips the outside of the post and behind. The former Arsenal striker despairs.

22′ OFF THE WOODWORK… AGAIN! What on earth is going on here. I’m not sure how we haven’t seen the opening goal. A Forest corner is cleared, Moreno sends a header back into the box which is met by Yates. He doesn’t get much power on it, but the placement is nearly perfect. It dribbles against the post before the danger is cleared. En route to goal, Wood so nearly extended a leg to divert it home. Palace got away with one there…

61′ WHAT A SAVE FROM SELS That was an absolute barnstorming strike from Eze, from about 30 yards playing off the free-kick. It absolutely soars towards goal and Sels has to be at his very best to tip it onto the bar. Eze could have had two absolute belters to his name this evening.

65′ GOAL! NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1-0 CRYSTAL PALACE (WOOD) What an instinctual strike from Wood – Forest are ahead! Moreno’s long ball was headed down by Trevoh Chalobah into the centre of the field, and Wood just snaps a strike towards the near post from just outside the box. Henderson should probably be keeping it out, he got a hand to it. But seemingly he just did not expect Wood to take it first time, and the hosts lead at the City Ground. A fifth goal of the season for the Forest striker!

Key Stats

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