Of his many achievements in English football, discovering the key to unlocking Chris Wood’s talents is arguably Nuno Espirito Santo’s greatest accomplishment.
Often derided as a one-dimensional journeyman, who counts 15 clubs on his CV, the New Zealander’s fifth Premier League goal of the season, and 16th in 24 top-flight games since the Portuguese’s appointment last December, ensured Nottingham Forest edged a tight encounter to leave Crystal Palace still searching for their first top-flight win this term.
Wood’s latest strike made him only the third Forest player to score 20 times in the competition, and it arrived courtesy of a mistake by Dean Henderson, who allowed the centre-forward’s shot to slip through his grasp. But the fact the England international’s opposite number, Matz Sels, was forced to produce a number of fine saves to keep the visitors at bay was of little consolation to Oliver Glasner, the Palace manager, as he contemplated Palace’s most painful result of what is threatening to become an arduous campaign.
“What pleases me the most about Chris, even more than his goals, is his attitude and his leadership,” said Nuno. “His presence in the dressing room is excellent, how much he helps our young players. That is the thing which really stands out.”
“It was a difficult game but we are so happy we can give this to our fans,” Nuno added, as he celebrated Forest’s climb to eighth in the table. “It says a lot about the game itself when Matz gives one of the best displays in our team. We are delighted that we came through and everyone contributed.”
Only three players, including Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer, have been on target more times than Wood during the course of Nuno’s reign in the East Midlands. The fact that the other, Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta, began the fixture on the bench will inevitably raise further questions about Glasner’s selection.
But the Austrian, who counted Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa among his scalps last season, saw enough from his team to suggest that, with a few minor adjustments, they can escape their current malaise. Eberechi Eze was a threat and drew a fine save from Sels. Eddie Nketiah also started brightly before his influence diminished.
“It looks at the moment that every game is the same,” Glasner said, who had bemoaned Palace’s concentration levels ahead of kick-off. “One or two situations always seem to decide it for us. We created chances. We created situations. We didn’t score goals and we should score more. Then we got punished. The players worked hard and did everything they could. But right now, that is not enough. Everyone is frustrated and disappointed. It is my job now to get their heads up. I do not think it is a tactical problem.
“I think it is a confidence problem. Everyone is human. The passion and the hard-working mentality is all there. I still have a positive feeling for our upcoming matches.”
After negotiating a tricky opening period, in which Eze fired just wide before Nketiah forced Sels to palm his long-range attempt on to the crossbar, Forest gathered momentum with the excellent Elliot Anderson showcasing footwork worthy of Strictly to test Henderson and Ryan Yates seeing a header rebound off a post. Anderson’s ingenuity proved instrumental for the hosts, with the former Newcastle youngster’s trickery on the flanks ensuring Palace were forced to remain on their guard.
But Glasner’s men were in the ascendancy when Wood pounced midway through the second half; taking advantage of an unconvincing clearance by Trevoh Chalobah and then Henderson’s error, just over a week after earning his second England cap against Finland in Helsinki.
“Dean tried to apologise but I wouldn’t let him,” revealed Glasner. “He has no need to because he has made so many big saves for us. No one is blaming anyone in the dressing room. Now is the time to stick together rather than point fingers. If anyone is to blame it is me, I always take responsibility. Maybe we need to change shape and get more attacking players on the pitch.”
Palace substitute Jeffrey Schlupp thought he had grabbed an equaliser, only for Sels to excel himself once again. But as Glasner’s side searched in vain for an equaliser, so Forest’s threat grew with a series of rapid counter-attacks, one nearly producing a second.
“The table doesn’t guide us, our levels do, and to sustain them is the challenge,” said Nuno, who was forced to watch the action from the stands after being handed a touchline ban for his protests following Gibbs-White’s dismissal against Brighton. Gibbs-White and James Ward-Prowse were also suspended for the match.
“We want to keep on raising the bar,” Nuno added. “We cannot ignore the talent of our opponents. We have to race and run more than them. The spirit and the bond is important, so we can progress.”
10:29 PM BST
Are Palace in relegation danger?
Tonight is the first time this season where I’ve watched us and thought it’s actually looking likely we’ll be in the relegation battle throughout the season.
What a grim night.
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) October 21, 2024
10:21 PM BST
Guehi reacts
I can’t fault anyone really. Everyone put effort into that game. At the moment nothing’s going for us. We have to go back, keep working and stick together. We’re creating chances but any slight mistake gets punished at the moment.
When the world’s against you you have to keep fighting. We’re all at fault. It’s not one person for that goal. Life’s hard and you have to deal with it. You have to keep fighting to get better. It’s important that we stick together. You have to keep going, and we’ll keep going for sure.
10:19 PM BST
WATCH: The winning goal for Forest
10:09 PM BST
Wood reacts
Fantastic, we needed a home win and thankfully we got it. We did the consistent things that we have always been doing.
We showed tonight that we have a full squad that we can compete with.
09:55 PM BST
FULL TIME: Forest 1 Palace 0
All over at the City Ground as Forest hold on for their first home win of the season and ensure Palace remain winless.
09:53 PM BST
90+5mins: Forest 1 Palace 0
Munoz catches Dominguez and earns himself a yellow card.
09:51 PM BST
90+3mins: Forest 1 Palace 0
Forest fans are trying to push their players over the line as Palace try to grab an equaliser.
09:48 PM BST
90mins: Forest 1 Palace 0
Into seven minutes of stoppage time. Murmurs in the home crowd as that number is held up.
09:45 PM BST
87mins: Forest 1 Palace 0
Palace sub:
OFF Kamada
ON Agbinone
09:44 PM BST
86mins: Forest 1 Palace 0
Another Forest goal would put the match to bed I think and that’s why they continue to come forward. Palace have had chances but largely been second best tonight.
09:41 PM BST
83mins: Forest 1 Palace 0
Forest sub:
OFF Hudson-Odoi, Wood
ON Awoniyi, Sosa
09:39 PM BST
81mins: Forest 1 Palace 0
Fine save by Sels. Pure reactions from him as he flies to his right to push Schlupp’s shot wide.
09:36 PM BST
78mins: Forest 1 Palace 0
Forest sub:
OFF Moreno, Andeerson
ON Morato, Williams
09:35 PM BST
76mins: Forest 1 Palace 0
Palace have offered nothing since going a goal down. A reflection of their season really. Very toothless in attack.
09:31 PM BST
73mins: Forest 1 Palace 0
Palace sub:
OFF Hughes, Mitchell
ON Sarr, Schlupp
09:29 PM BST
70mins: Forest 1 Palace 0
Henderson is forced to use his feet to keep out Anderson’s shot from the edge of the box.
It had a slight deflection so that’s a decent response from the Palace keeper.
09:28 PM BST
68mins: Forest 1 Palace 0
Yellow card now for Dominguez after he kicked the ball away. Strange decision by the player when you consider it was a Forest free-kick.
09:27 PM BST
‘Wood’s resurgence under Nuno’
Chris Wood, whose resurgence under Nuno has been one of the stories of the Portuguese’s reign at the City Ground, fires Forest in front. But Dean Henderson, the Palace goalkeeper, will be gutted not to have kept that low shot out at his near post.
A combination of poor defending and a mistake by Henderson allowed Wood to settle their nerves. Pouncing on a half-hearted clearance, the centre-forward unleashed a low shot which should have been gathered at the near post by the Palace goalkeeper. Instead, appealing to misjudge its flight, the England goalkeeper saw the ball squeeze through his grasp and nestle in the back of the net.
09:25 PM BST
66mins: Forest 1 Palace 0
Palace sub:
OFF Nketiah
ON Glasner
09:25 PM BST
65mins: Forest 1 Palace 0 GOAL
DEADLOCK BROKEN FINALLY!
Poor attempt at clearing the ball by Chalobah. It falls to the feet of Wood, who hits a half-volley which is speculative but Henderson flaps at it and the ball squirms past his hands and into the net.
09:20 PM BST
62mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Forest sub:
OFF Elanga
ON Jota Silva
09:19 PM BST
60mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
From the resulting free kick, Eze shots from distance and Sels makes a stunning save to tip the ball onto the bar and it flies away for a corner.
09:18 PM BST
59mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Nketiah drives forward and is fouled by Anderson, who becomes the latest name in the book.
09:14 PM BST
55mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Hudson-Odoi plays the ball back to Dominguez on the edge of the box but his effort is tame and saved by Henderson.
09:12 PM BST
52mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Chance for Palace. Munoz crosses into the box, Nketiah flicks the ball on and Eze hits a left footed volley which is spilled by Henderson and on the rebound he blocks Kamada’s shot. But the Japan international was offside.
09:07 PM BST
48mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Forest have started the half better with Palace unable to keep the ball. The away side look short on confidence and belief. Desperately need a goal.
09:03 PM BST
SECOND HALF: Forest 0 Palace 0
We are off again. No changes for either side.
08:49 PM BST
HALF TIME: Forest 0 Palace 0
One final moment for Wood. Anderson curls the ball into the box. Wood is unmarked and stretches for the inswinging delivery but can’t get enough connection on the ball and Henderson gathers easily.
And that was the last touch of the half as the referee blows the whistle. Things can only get better, I hope.
08:46 PM BST
45mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Two minutes added on… mercifully!
08:43 PM BST
‘Glasner looking a little bit more anxious now’
Oliver Glasner had cut a very composed figure at the beginning of this game. He’s looking a little bit more anxious now, as Forest look to create chances, begin to control possession and manage to keep Palace largely at arms length.
08:41 PM BST
41mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Second booking of the match goes to Kamada for pulling down Aina.
08:40 PM BST
36mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
The level of the match has definitely dipped in the last five minutes. A bit of a struggle at the moment.
08:34 PM BST
31mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
It is scrappy but end-to-end stuff as the two teams look to find the cutting edge to open the scoring.
Home fans are getting a little restless as they demand more attacking threat.
08:29 PM BST
27mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
No goals so far but both teams have had seven shots at goal. Surely we will get a goal tonight?!
08:26 PM BST
24mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Greedy from Nketiah. He does well to beat his man on the left side and works his way into the box but decides to shoot from a low percentage angle and his shot is tame and saved.
08:23 PM BST
21mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Now Forest hit the woodwork. Yates with a looping header drifts towards goal but strikes the post and Palace clear the danger.
08:21 PM BST
19mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Yates loses the ball in midfield and Nketiah picks it up and drives forward. You’re thinking ‘don’t shoot’ but Nketiah does and it is a fine effort from 25 yards that clips the outside of the post.
08:19 PM BST
A place on Strictly for Anderson?
Elliot Anderson has just produced some lovely footwork to dance through Palace’s defence before seeing his shot saved by Dean Henderson. A place on Strictly could beckon for the Forest man.
08:18 PM BST
16mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Back-to-back chances for Forest!
From the resulting corner, the ball is flicked to the back post where Wood meets it with a header but Lerma blocks on the line and Palace clear.
Forest then recycle the ball and it is whipped into the box where Wood is there again with a header but he puts his effort over the bar.
08:16 PM BST
14mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Great balance and skill from Anderson in the Palace box and he gets a shot off which is palmed away for a corner by Henderson.
08:15 PM BST
13mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
First sight of goal for Nketiah and the chance is made by Eze. The midfielder picks up the ball again in behind the Forest midfield, Nketiah makes his run and is found by a pass from Eze.
The striker is forced to shoot early, doesn’t make the cleanest connection and Sels makes a comfortable save.
08:11 PM BST
10mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Eze looks in the mood tonight. He is finding some lovely positions in front of the Forest backline. Will be up to Yates to keep a close eye on him.
08:07 PM BST
6mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
First yellow card of the match goes to Lerma for pulling back Aina.
A long time to go on a booking for the Colombian.
08:06 PM BST
4mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Eze picks up the ball outside the centre circle and drives forward. He approaches the Forest penalty area and shoots with his left-foot and just misses the target.
A statement of intent by the attacking midfielder.
08:04 PM BST
2mins: Forest 0 Palace 0
Slow start as Palace opt to take the sting out of the match and pass along the backline. Forest eventually force them to go long and win the ball back.
08:00 PM BST
KICK OFF: Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace
Palace’s Eze gets the match underway.
07:59 PM BST
Here we go!
The two teams come out for the final league game of the gameweek.
As the players lineup the home fans loudly boo the Premier League anthem and make their feelings felt about the five-match stadium ban for Evangelos Marinakis, the Greek billionaire owner and Nuno Espirito Santo will be in the stands for three matches.
07:55 PM BST
A reminder of the teams
Nottingham Forest
Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Alex, Yates, Dominguez, Elanga, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi, Wood.
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.
Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex)
07:49 PM BST
Palace need a big game from this man tonight
07:39 PM BST
Pre-match stats
Chris Wood has scored six of Nottingham Forest’s last nine Premier League goals, and has 19 goals for them overall in the division. He is looking to become the third player to score 20+ for Forest in the competition, after Bryan Roy (24) and Stan Collymore (22).
Crystal Palace are winless in their last 10 top-flight meetings with Nottingham Forest (D6 L4), since a 1-0 away win in February 1991.
In the Premier League this season, no side has recorded fewer total pressures in the final third (233), fewer high turnovers (32), or has a higher passes per defensive action (PPDA) average (15.3) than Nottingham Forest.
07:31 PM BST
Two academy prospects on the bench for Palace: Asher Agbinone (left) and Caleb Kporha
07:23 PM BST
Pre-match thoughts from Crystal Palace defender Trevoh Chalobah
We have worked on a lot of things, we needed to get the boys together and work on aspects we needed to improve on. For me, we have done well in games but it’s that end product. Once we get one, the boys are good enough to take it forward.
We just need to nail that final edge. We know the dangerous [Nottingham] Forest pose but we will be ready.
07:16 PM BST
Pre-match thoughts from Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner
We’ve been very competitive in every game, but in the end we’ve missed some percentages in order to get a result.
We’ve had some big chances, and if you don’t win for many games it costs you confidence. This is what we’re struggling with at the moment.
We’ve been missing some details in attacking, and missing some details in defending set-plays, that’s what we have to get back.
07:02 PM BST
Team news explained
Forest are without the suspended Morgan Gibbs-White and James Ward-Prowse, which means starts for Nicolas Dominguez and Anthony Elanga.
Will Hughes replaces Adam Wharton in midfield and Daichi Kamada starts in attack ahead of Ismaila Sarr.
06:52 PM BST
Crystal Palace starting XI
06:50 PM BST
Nottingham Forest starting XI
06:44 PM BST
Team news coming up…
Some interesting selections are expected for tonight’s game.
06:35 PM BST
Bottom half battle at City Ground
By John Percy
Nottingham Forest’s return to the Premier League has never been short of drama and controversy, and this month they will be without a suspended club owner and head coach.
Evangelos Marinakis, the Greek billionaire, starts a five-match stadium ban for Monday’s clash with Crystal Palace while Nuno Espirito Santo will be in the stands for three matches as Forest feel the impact of a clampdown on misconduct by the Football Association.
It was hoped that this season would be far more serene, after an excruciating 23/24 campaign which included a points deduction and regular battles with the Premier League, FA and PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited).
Yet the flashpoints keep on coming and the atmosphere promises to be red-hot at the City Ground on Monday night, with supporters angered by what they feel is a personal vendetta against the club.
Amid the backdrop of an absent owner and a head coach watching from the stand, Forest are hoping to continue a promising start to the season by reversing their poor home form.
Under Nuno’s predecessor Steve Cooper, Forest’s impressive home results ensured survival in their first year back at the top table for 23 years.
It is therefore a source of huge frustration that Forest have won only twice in front of their own supporters in 2024, and are without a home victory so far this season.
Failure to beat winless Palace on Monday will see Forest equal their longest run of home matches without a victory since 2012 [eight in all competitions].
Nuno has guided his team to notable results away at Liverpool, Chelsea and Brighton this season and admits the prospect of a siege mentality could help provide some home comforts.
He said: “If the atmosphere is heated and it helps us, that’s better for us but we still have to do our jobs. The atmosphere has always been very positive for what we’re doing as a team.
“This is what we have to match with our performances. We didn’t perform well in our last game against Fulham, that shows we have an issue to take care of. This is what we are trying to do and Monday is a good chance to reverse it.”
Nuno will watch the Palace match from the directors’ box and is allowed to be in contact with his assistant Rui Pedro Silva.
On the pitch, Forest will be without Morgan Gibbs-White and James Ward-Prowse, who are also suspended.
Matz Sels, the goalkeeper, has been passed fit after withdrawing from international duty with Belgium due to an adductor injury.
