Chris Wood’s fifth goal this season was the difference as Nottingham Forest beat Crystal Palace 1-0, the Reds’ first home win since April. George Edwards was at the match
The Premier League anthem was subtly played at a distinctly lower volume than normal last night, drowned by a cascade of boos from the riled home supporters — contrasted by the infamous rendition of Mull of Kintyre, loud and passionate as ever. Under the lights, the Rebel City was at its best, and there was nothing Crystal Palace could do to stop it.
Oliver Glasner’s bright, white trainers were about the only thing that shone from a Palace persuasion. With Nottingham Forest now sitting in eighth and Palace bottom, the club’s decision to snub the Austrian for their now beloved Nuno Espírito Santo looks like a master stroke.
Chris Wood’s 40-yard sprint in the 79th minute to cover defensively when Forest looked stretched drew deserved accolades from the City Ground choir, a move that perfectly illustrated the belief the current crop have in Nuno and his methods. Frustratingly watching on from the Peter Taylor Stand, the Portuguese’s presence was still largely felt, his side outclassing Palace throughout.
It was a performance where everyone was required to chip in in the absence of star man Morgan Gibbs-White. From the off, his movement and ability to drive Forest forward was a clear miss, yet even on a day where the wide men were quiet throughout, they were still able to maintain control whilst always looking a threat.
Glasner’s low block saw Forest unable to play their usual, fast-paced football, with the Eagles’ supposed back three slumping to a five for large periods. They found it tough to find space in and around the penalty area, until the inevitable Wood struck midway through the second half.
Just when people doubted his ability to perform after an international break spent 12 timezones away, he caught Dean Henderson off guard; much like the goal he scored against Fulham in April, incidentally Forest’s last home win.
That’s now five goals in eight games for the father-to-be, the Premier League’s joint-fourth top scorer. The visitor’s striker Eddie Nketiah nearly became Forest’s number nine over the summer following real concern as to whether Wood could take the Reds to the next level; Wood now four goals away from becoming Forest’s all-time Premier League top scorer.
Parallel to Forest’s point at Chelsea, while Wood grabbed the goal, Matz Sels was the hero once again, somehow making seven saves despite Palace’s stagnant football. Two superb diving stops to keep out Eberechi Eze’s powerful volley and Jeffrey Schlupp’s goalbound curler were among his showreel, one that is ever growing this season.
Sels’ displays are a stark contrast to that of Palace backup ‘keeper Matt Turner, ineligible against his parent club, who held that position this time last year. Not only the saves, but the ability to command his area and be decisive with the ball at feet are why the Belgian holds the number one shirt and the American has been banished to South London.
In front of Sels, and it seems like it’s said every week, Nikola Milenkovic continues to prove his worth with yet another stellar display. It’s largely going unnoticed that Murillo seems to be going through a rough patch, for him at least, covered by the pace, dominance and leadership of the Serbian, with yet more crucial covering and exquisite positioning at the heart of his performance.
A third clean sheet and third 1-0 of the season for Forest now, for what is now alone in being the second best Premier League defence. And, despite this, it would be hard to label their football as excessively defensive.
Winning at home was the only unticked element to the Reds start and with that doubt now gone, it’s hard not to give them less than an 8/10 for their performances this season.
Final word must go to Elliot Anderson. Gibbs-White’s shoes were never going to be filled but he brought composure and steadiness to the role, misplacing just two passes during his 78 minutes on the pitch. His display proves that everyone seems to be on board with what is happening at Nottingham Forest this season, and it’s looking like it could be one hell of a ride.
Follow The Famous Club on:
Google News | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Instagram | Flipboard | Reddit | WhatsApp | Bluesky
