On Sunday, February 1, 2026, the City Ground in Nottingham will host a Premier League clash with contrasting stakes for the two teams involved.
Nottingham Forest, fresh from their best victory of the season, a 2-0 win at Brentford, aim to build momentum and climb further from relegation worries.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace arrives in a state of disarray, winless in their last 11 fixtures and plagued by a defensive crisis that has seen them concede 21 goals during that dismal run.
For one team, this is a chance for resurgence; for the other, it’s a desperate bid to halt a potentially season-wrecking slide.
Head-to-head
The historical record between these sides points to a closely fought, often cagey affair. In meetings since 2003, Nottingham Forest holds a slight upper hand with 8 wins to Crystal Palace’s 3, with an equal 8 matches ending in draws.
This trend of competitive balance has only solidified in the Premier League era. Looking at their last five top-flight encounters, the story is one of frustration and stalemate: four of those five matches have ended in draws, with Nottingham Forest securing the only win (1-0 in October 2024).
A deeper look reveals a pattern of low-scoring games. Historically, only 29% of head-to-head clashes have seen over 2.5 goals. Their most recent meetings have been especially tight, with three of the last five Premier League matches ending 1-1 and another finishing 0-0.
This suggests a match where chances may be at a premium and midfield battles will be decisive.
Team news and predicted lineups
Manager Sean Dyche has been boosted by the return of key defenders Murillo and Igor Jesus from injury. This defensive reinforcement is timely, as Forest has kept a clean sheet in an impressive 50% of their home matches this season.
The major absentee remains striker Chris Wood, who is still sidelined.
Predicted Forest lineup (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, N. Williams; Sangaré, Anderson; Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Dominguez; Jesus.
The news is less positive for the Eagles. Manager Oliver Glasner’s problems are mounting, both on and off the pitch. Key midfielder Adam Wharton is suspended for this clash, a significant blow.
Captain and defensive linchpin Marc Guéhi was recently sold to Manchester City, leaving a gaping hole in the backline. The club also rejected a substantial bid from Nottingham Forest for striker Jean-Philippe Mateta this week, adding to the uncertainty.
On a positive note, Mateta has been cleared to play after a serious ear injury and is expected to wear a protective mask. However, he remains part of a long injury list that includes Cheick Doucouré, Daichi Kamada, and Edward Nketiah.
Predicted Palace lineup (3-4-3): Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Richards; Munoz, Imray, Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, B. Johnson.
Match prediction and key analysis
All evidence points toward a Nottingham Forest victory. The disparity in form, morale, and team stability is simply too vast to ignore.
Forest, while inconsistent, have shown resilience at home, including a 0-0 draw with Arsenal, and their comprehensive win at Brentford proves they can capitalise on opportunities. In contrast, Crystal Palace is in freefall.
Their winless streak is compounded by a dreadful away record: they are yet to win on the road this season, averaging 0.8 goals scored and a concerning 2.2 goals conceded per away game. Analyst Nigel Seeley has labelled them a consistent “fade” team, a strategy he sees no reason to abandon now.
The absence of Wharton’s control in midfield and Guéhi’s leadership in defence will be keenly felt by Palace.
Expect Forest, led by the creative Morgan Gibbs-White, to control the midfield and patiently break down a vulnerable Eagles defence, which has been particularly shaky defending set-pieces.
Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1 – 0 Crystal Palace
Betting tips and insights
Given the analysis, here are the most informed betting angles for this fixture:
Main bet: Nottingham Forest to Win. This is the standout play. Bookmakers and analysts align on this, with Forest priced as clear favorites. Their superior form, home advantage, and Palace’s crisis make this the most probable outcome.
Strong value: Under 2.5 Total Goals. This bet marries the historical head-to-head trend with both teams’ recent patterns. Low-scoring draws have defined this fixture, and Forest’s solid home defence (conceding 1.0 per game) against Palace’s blunt attack (0.8 goals per away game) suggests a repeat.
Goalscorer watch: With Chris Wood out, Taiwo Awoniyi offers good value as an anytime goalscorer. He is likely to feature and will be a focal point against a suspect Palace backline.
Cautionary note: While “Both Teams to Score: No” is a popular tip, Palace’s Mateta is a quality striker returning to action. If he shakes off the rust, he is capable of scoring against any defence, making this a slightly riskier proposition than the others.
As the teams prepare to walk out at the City Ground, this is more than just three points on offer. It’s a test of Nottingham Forest’s ambition to push up the table and a critical examination of Crystal Palace’s resolve to save their season from complete collapse.