Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace face off at the City Ground in a Sunday afternoon Premier League encounter (2 February, 14:00). The two sides are separated by just three points in the table, and below you can find our match preview and best bets, which include a player to be carded.
Best Bets & Predictions
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nottingham Forest to Win | 1/1 @ Betfair (50.0%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Things are going from bad to worse at Crystal Palace at the moment and we just can’t get behind them here. Nottingham Forest have won seven points in their last three Premier League matches (W2 D1), more than in their previous eight combined (6 – W2 L6). Only Burnley (14) are on a longer winless Premier League run than Crystal Palace (8) currently – the Eagles last had a worse run without winning between January and March 2023 (12 games). Furthermore, Crystal Palace have never won in 11 previous Premier League meetings with Nottingham Forest (D7 L4) |
| Neco Williams to be carded | 7/2 @ Betfred (22.2%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | We also like the look of the 7/2 about Neco Williams to be carded. The defender has collected four yellows in the league this season, but the key angle here is that he will eb the direct opponent of Ismaila Sarr. The Crystal Palace man is their most fouled player this term and is averaging a healthy 1.55 fouls won per 90 minutes. |
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Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
How both teams head into Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace
Forest’s season got off to a difficult start, with Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou both losing their jobs early on. Since then, results have improved under Sean Dyche. The team are unbeaten in their last three Premier League matches and now sit 17th in the table, five points above West Ham United, who remain in the relegation zone despite recent wins.
Confidence was boosted further by a 4 0 win over Ferencvaros at the City Ground on Thursday, which secured Forest a place in the Europa League playoff round against either Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos. Goals have still been hard to come by in the league, with only Wolves scoring fewer this season, but Forest can take encouragement from their strong record against Crystal Palace. They have not lost any of their last ten competitive meetings with the Eagles, including a 1 1 draw at Selhurst Park in August.
After a superb 2024 25 campaign that brought an FA Cup triumph and qualification for the UEFA Conference League, Crystal Palace have found this season far more challenging. They are without a win in their last 11 matches in all competitions, a run that stretches back to a 3 0 away victory over Shelbourne in December, and with just 28 Premier League points they sit uncomfortably close to the relegation zone.
European form has also disappointed, with dropped points at home to KuPS and AEK Larnaca limiting Palace to a Conference League playoff tie against HSK Zrinjski Mostar. Off the pitch, uncertainty has grown after Oliver Glasner confirmed he will leave when his contract ends in the summer, while former captain Marc Guehi has already moved on to Manchester City. Despite picking up more league points away from home this season, Palace will be desperate to halt a run of five straight away defeats when they travel to face Forest on Sunday.
Nottingham Forest team news
Chris Wood and Nicolo Savona are the only absentees for the hosts.
Crystal Palace team news
Cheick Doucoure, Daichi Kamada are out injured. Adam Wharton is suspended.
Season Form & Standings
2025/26 season to date – Both Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace have found wins hard to come by, sitting 17th and 15th respectively after 23 matches. Forest have managed 7 wins, 4 draws, and 12 losses (goal difference -11), while Palace are three points ahead with 7 wins, 7 draws, and 9 defeats (goal difference -4). Clean sheets have been rare, and both have struggled for consistency. Survival remains the main priority as the campaign enters a crucial phase.
| Team | Pos | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Palace | 15 | 23 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 24 | 28 | -4 | 28 |
| Nottingham Forest | 17 | 23 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 23 | 34 | -11 | 25 |
Head-to-Head: Last 6 Meetings
The last six meetings between Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace have been fiercely contested, with draws dominating the recent history and Palace holding a slight edge on wins. Neither side has scored more than once in any of the last five encounters, underlining the competitive and often cagey nature of this fixture.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 24/08/25 | Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest | Premier League |
| 05/05/25 | Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest | Premier League |
| 21/10/24 | Nottingham Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace | Premier League |
| 30/03/24 | Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace | Premier League |
| 07/10/23 | Crystal Palace 0-0 Nottingham Forest | Premier League |
| 28/05/23 | Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest | Premier League |
Conclusion: Final Thoughts
It’s impossible to get behind Crystal Palace at the moment with what is going on at the club. As a result, getting behind a rejuvenated Forest looks the best bet here at even money. For those looking for something a little bigger, we like the look of Neco Williams to be carded at 7/2.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
