Nottm Forest edge to victory over Crystal Palace in Premier League
Wood scores second-half winner with low shot that squirms past keeper Henderson
Result leaves Palace winless after eight games and in bottom three
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
Image source, Getty ImagesThat's all from me, but make sure you read Nick Mashiter's report on this page.
We'll be back tomorrow, live-texting the Champions League. Arsenal take on Shakhtar Donetsk at 20:00 BST and Aston Villa host Bologna.
Oh, and for those wondering, I won my Fantasy Football head-to-head. Stranger Ings marches on.
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
More from Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo speaking to Sky Sports: "This is what the squad is about. It is not only Morgan and James that we miss but we miss Ibrahim and Danilo in midifield too, that position requires a lot of effort and the replacements did an amazing job."
On watching the game from the stands: "Terrible, just terrible, but as a coaching staff for what we wanted from the game was to be ready and not interfere with the performance of the players."
On confidence and belief in squad: "The win helps. The performance and also the previous one before the break was good. The bar is high in terms of commitment and we cannot allow the players to relax. Never. The most difficult thing in football is sustaining your performances."
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo speaking to Sky Sports: "It is a great feeling, especially for the fans. We have been waiting for this moment to celebrate together and they got it today. We had huge help from them as always and we are delighted to give them this win.
On the big second half from Forest: "It was a tight game for all of the game. Our goalkeeper Mats was the best player on our team, that says a lot for how tough it was. It says a lot about the quality of Palace and how they make us defend, but we were happy to do that.
"We controlled the game better in the first half in terms of offensive actions and creating chances but in the second we controlled the momentum of the game better, not allowing Palace to put us on the ropes.
On Chris Wood: "Chris gives us much more than the goals but we are delighted that he scores for us. He is huge for us, the way he links, the way he defends. His voice in the dressing room is important, the way he leads by example for the younger lads. We are very grateful for him. "
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
Nottingham Forest goalscorer Chris Wood to BBC Match of the Day: "We created the better chances. But we could have made it a bit more comfortable. We got the win, that's the main thing.
"Sometimes you've got to hit it and hope it goes in. It's one of those.
"It's nice to see us doing well as a team. We've got to keep going and see how far we can go with it.
"We've got confidence in our squad and dressing room and this team that we're building. It's all credit to everybody around the club.
"He's our manager, we want him on the touchline, but he has more than enough influence over us in the week."
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo to BBC Match of the Day: "[Winning at home] it feels good, especially for the fans. They've been waiting for this moment.
"I think it's not only the goal Chris [Wood] gives us, also the way he works is amazing. We are delighted.
"When you're goalkeeper is your best player on the team it says a lot. But also it says Palace is a tough team. Matz [Sels] once again kept us solid. It's important."
On managing from the touchline: "It's not good. But unfortunately I have to be there. But we are a coaching staff. The communication is good and the players were amazing.
"It's not about where we are in the table. We had a clear goal for this game and that was to win at home.
"I think we try to always compete. Competing is every duel, every moment, every action. It has a huge impact on the game."
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Wonder what happens with Palace when they inevitably lose Eze and Guehi!
James
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner to BBC Sport: "Very frustrating and very disappointing. It was a again a very close, tight game. At the end it was one tiny moment that decided the game and it's always against us.
"The players are fighting hard. Yes we know our football right now is not the best, but we created chances and twice hit the post.
"We have had better times in our life together. We have to support each other to get the chin up and get ready for the next game.
"It's not the time to blame anybody, I saw the players working hard from the first minute to the last. When we conceded the goal I thought we were better in the game. We lost the momentum and confidence. But we came back into the game and they made two unbelievable saves.
"It's tough at the moment to be honest. But the character of the players, the hard working. Yes it's disappointing but nobody is blaming anybody. The chemistry is good in the dressing room. We need the confidence and to get that we need to score goals.
"We will work hard to get this, to get the goals and the win.
"It's not about too much tactical things, I see no problems regarding the tactics. Very often we are in the final third and making the wrong decisions. This is due to a lack of confidence. We are humans.
"It's time for hugging the players, not for kicking them."
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
More stats, so many to choose from:
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
More from Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner speaking to Sky Sports: "At the time we conceded the goal we had the momentum in the game and we had control of the situation. It is a long ball and then you are 1-0 down.
"Then for 5-10 minutes Forest had the momentum. We worked and worked and worked to come back but they do not concede many goals at the moment. Disappointing but the mindset of the players makes me positive for the future.
On nerves the longer the side remain winless: "You can trust us. We are the guys that maybe suffer the most. I see the players now in the dressing room and it is our job to support them to lift their heads up and stay positive, but it's not that easy.
"We have to rely on the experience of the group, some of the players will have seen this at previous clubs, to come back and work together and go again."
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My biggest worry about Palace is this is about 3 "relegation 6-pointers" lost and about 3 midtable clashes too. Doesn't bode well.
Joe, Surrey
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner speaking to Sky Sports: "We are all frustrated and disapppointed and as always one or two situations decide the game. At the moment it goes against us, but this is the time we have to get through it together.
"I saw the team fighting from the first to the last second, we created chances, hit the post twice. At the moment don't score goals and we have to be honest. No goal today, no goal v Liverpool, no goal v United, and if you play like this it is difficult to win.
"We make one mistake and we get punished. That is the situation we are in. But the only guys that can turn it around are is this team."
On missed chances: "In the situation we are in things are not so fluid. In the final third we very often took the wrong decisions and this is through a lack of confidence. Maybe you need one to hit the post and go in instead of post and out, and then there was an unbelievable save from their keeper.
"Sometimes you need an easy goal but at the moment that is not arriving for us. We had chances to score but we didnt and it it tough times at the moment."
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace had 20 shots this evening, their highest total in a Premier League game without scoring since December, 2018 v Cardiff (31 at Selhurst Park) and their highest tally in an away game without finding the back of the net since September, 2017 v Burnley (23 at Turf Moor).
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
In defence of Crystal Palace tonight, the performance was almost there, they just weren't clinical enough.
Forest keeper Matz Sels had another great game. A different keeper between the sticks and who knows...
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Anon: Bad decisions and signings in the summer. Terrible formation from OG - Kamada well off it, playing wing backs who can’t get forward , no depth on the bench no ideas going forward.. 12-14th if we’re lucky yet again.
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
More from Player of the Match Chris Wood speaking to Sky Sports:
Celebration? "We found out that my wife is pregnant a couple of days ago so that's the announcement to the world. We are having a baby girl so I am excited to welcome her into the world."
On being behind Palmer and Haaland for PL goals since his arrival at Forest: "I have got the backing of Nuno and it is fantastic to have a manager right behind you. We have a great team that make a lot of chances and you have to be ready to put them in the back of the net."
On Forest sitting 8th in the league: "You have to have as high expectations as possible and keep believing that you can keep doing better and better. How we have started the season we believe we can keep improving and pushing further and further up the table."
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
Nottingham Forest matchwinner Chris Wood speaking to Sky Sports: "Fantastic. We knew that we needed that home win to get a kickstart for the season, and thankfully we got it tonight. It is about doing what we have been doing all season and being consistent with things. We managed to get the goal and then to also see it out at the end."
On having creativity despite absences: "We know how good those players are and what fantastic players they are for our team and we sorely misss them at times but we showed tonight that we have a great squad that can help us compete in the league.
Half time thoughts: "You just have to keep going. There is always going to be another chance and you have to keep going. I was unlucky in the first half and a couple could have bounced a different way and I was unlucky to miss with a header. There will always be another chance around the corner and you have to be ready for it."
On his goal: "I've no scored many from outside the box. I try to keep them inside the box because it's a lot easier. You just try to get it [the shot] on target and then anything can happen. It just trickled under Dean's [Henderson] hand. But it is one of those you have to take the shot and thankfully it went in."
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
Confidence is a funny old thing in football and, right now, Crystal Palace appear to be seriously lacking in it.
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The Palace players unfortunately just don't seem to believe in their own strengths and in each other. You can feel that when you watch them. They simply didn't deserve to win. Palace fans can't be enjoying this.
PJ
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace midfielder Will Hughes to Sky Sports: "As players we have to take responsibility. Over the last eight games we haven't been good enough.
"There's pressure every game, but we know what we have to do to get out of this situation.
"You look at the squad, the ability we have, it's just not clicking at the moment. We've got to stick together now."
FT: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi to Premier League Productions: "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."
Dean Henderson's error allowed Chris Wood to score Nottingham Forest's winner
Dean Henderson's mistake piled more misery on winless Crystal Palace as Chris Wood sealed victory for Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
The Palace goalkeeper, in front of watching interim England manager Lee Carsley, allowed Wood's second-half strike to squirm under his arm.
Oliver Glasner's Eagles remain in the Premier League's bottom three, while Forest rise to eighth after their first home win of the season.
Eberechi Eze and Eddie Nketiah hit the woodwork for Palace, while Ryan Yates also nodded on to a post for the hosts.
Palace enjoyed the better of a bright opening and Eze went close before Nketiah's fine 30-yard effort clipped the upright, but after a slow start Forest roused themselves and Elliott Anderson's excellent run and shot forced Henderson into action.
Wood headed over before being denied by Jefferson Lerma on the line as Forest continued to create chances, and Yates' header came back off the post after 22 minutes.
Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo - watching from the stands as he starts a three-game touchline ban - would have been encouraged, but Palace regrouped and Matz Sels turned Eze's drive on to the bar after the break.
But Wood struck with 25 minutes left when he seized on Trevoh Chalobah's clearance and his first-time effort from 20 yards crept under Henderson's arm.
Sels then ensured Forest took all three points with another fine save, this time denying Jeffrey Schlupp with 10 minutes left.
Nuno Espirito Santo 'delighted' with first home win
Nottingham Forest's search for a striker took them to several targets in the summer, but they know they can rely on Chris Wood.
Nketiah, PSV's Santiago Gimenez and Porto's Galeno were all wanted, but Wood is Forest's go-to man.
The forward became just the third player to score 20 or more goals for Forest in the Premier League with his winner, behind Bryan Roy and Stan Collymore.
He could have scored earlier in the game but persistence paid off, and few will blame him for those failures now the points are secured.
It was his fifth league goal of the season and shows why he is integral to Forest under Nuno.
Before the Portuguese manager arrived Wood scored just six league goals in a season and a half, before netting four in Nuno's first two games, including a hat-trick in the win at Newcastle last December.
Another seven followed, and the New Zealand forward has hit the ground running this season, just when Forest needed him to after missing out on adding their strikeforce.
Defeat at Forest 'frustrating and disappointing', says Oliver Glasner
Crystal Palace ended last season with six wins from their final seven games and their immediate future looked bright.
They had a joint-highest points tally in the Premier League, and a new manager who had won the Europa League two years previously.
Now, after defeat at the City Ground, they are on their longest winless start to a season in 31 years.
Manager Glasner has already said the first goal is not to get relegated and, as it stands, it should be the only one.
They are the lowest scorers in the division with five, and need Nketiah to find his feet.
Forest wanted Nketiah in the summer but he faded after his early strike hit the post and is not a like-for-like replacement for Michael Olise – such a loss after he joined Bayern Munich in the summer - who had a brilliant understanding with Eze.
Yet after paying about £30m to sign him from Arsenal the striker needs goals.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 21 |
| |
| 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 20 |
| |
| 3 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 17 |
| |
| 4 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 17 |
| |
| 5 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 15 |
| |
| 6 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 14 |
| |
| 7 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 13 |
| |
| 8 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 13 |
| |
| 9 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 12 |
| |
| 10 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| |
| 11 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 11 |
| |
| 12 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | -2 | 11 |
| |
| 13 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 15 | -1 | 10 |
| |
| 14 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 9 |
| |
| 15 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 15 | -4 | 8 |
| |
| 16 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 15 | -6 | 8 |
| |
| 17 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 16 | -10 | 4 |
| |
| 18 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 11 | -6 | 3 |
| |
| 19 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 18 | -12 | 1 |
| |
| 20 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 10 | 23 | -13 | 1 |
|
Manager: Rui Pedro Silva
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Oliver Glasner
Formation: 3 - 1 - 4 - 2
Manager: Rui Pedro Silva
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Oliver Glasner
Formation: 3 - 1 - 4 - 2
Premier League
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Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in their last seven league games against Crystal Palace (W2 D5). However, five of the last six have been draws, including each of the last three in a row.
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.
Nottingham Forest have never lost in eight Premier League meetings with Crystal Palace (W3 D5). It’s both the most they’ve faced a side without losing and the most the Eagles have faced a side without winning in the competition.
In all competitions, Nottingham Forest are winless in seven games at the City Ground (D4 L3). It’s their longest run without a home win since October 2020 (also 7), while they last went longer in February 2012 (8), a run which included a 0-1 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Championship.
Crystal Palace have drawn three and lost four of their seven Premier League games this season; not since 1992-93 have the Eagles failed to win any of their opening eight league matches of a campaign.
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.
Crystal Palace have lost both of their last two Premier League games, last losing three in a row in the competition in March 2023 (run of 4).
Only Diogo Dalot (48) and Iliman Ndiaye (47) have won possession more times in the Premier League this season than Adam Wharton (46). Meanwhile, the midfielder has been involved in 15 build-up sequences ending in a shot in the competition this term, the most of any Crystal Palace player.
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 the Tricky Trees in the competition, after Bryan Roy (24) and Stan Collymore (22).
Only Erling Haaland (35) and Antoine Semenyo (31) have had more shots in the Premier League this season than Eberechi Eze (27). However, Eze has just one goal (a shot conversion rate of 3.7%), while only Bruno Fernandes (-1.9) is underperforming his expected goals more than the Crystal Palace man in the competition this term (-1.5, 1 goal from 2.5 xG).
