Nottingham Forest, grappling with a point reduction, continues their struggle against relegation, while Crystal Palace, standing just 8 points above Forest, cannot afford complacency in this crucial encounter.
In a pivotal Premier League fixture this Saturday, Nottingham Forest hosts Crystal Palace in what promises to be a relegation battle of immense significance.
Despite the arrival of new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, Nottingham Forest has faltered, losing 4 of their last 5 league fixtures. Their recent schedule has been daunting, facing top-tier opposition such as Aston Villa, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Brighton, with close defeats highlighting their spirited efforts.
Preparing for Palace 👊 pic.twitter.com/tfEWLmG3s3— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) March 29, 2024
Preparing for Palace 👊 pic.twitter.com/tfEWLmG3s3
The recent draw against Luton served as a missed opportunity to secure crucial points for safety. However, there's a glimmer of hope in the form of Chris Wood, who has notched 10 goals in the Premier League, potentially bolstering Forest's attacking prowess.
Defensively, Nottingham Forest has shown signs of improvement, with their last 4 games across all competitions witnessing under 2.5 goals, indicating resilience at the back despite conceding a few.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace, amidst a managerial change midseason, continues to struggle for consistency.
The injuries to star players Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise have compounded their woes, contributing to their unfortunate run of just 3 wins in their last 19 matches across all competitions. Their offensive output has been lackluster, ranking among the teams with the fewest goals scored.
However, their recent record shows both teams finding the net in 5 of their last 6 Premier League matches.
With concerns over their away form, Crystal Palace seeks to salvage points from this fixture against Nottingham Forest to alleviate their relegation worries.
In head-to-head trends, Nottingham Forest holds an undefeated streak against Crystal Palace in their 6 most recent encounters across all competitions.
As for injury news, doubts loom over the fitness of attackers Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi for Nottingham Forest, while Crystal Palace grapples with a multitude of absentees including Nuno Tavares, Ola Aina, Cheick Doucoure, Marc Guehi, Michael Olise, Nathan Ferguson, Rob Holding, and Sam Johnstone. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Matheus Franca remain under assessment.
Forebet predicts a low-scoring draw, with both Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace likely to find the net in what promises to be a closely contested affair.