Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace: prediction, head-to-head and probable line-ups – 1 February 2026
One of the fixtures of the 24th round of the English Premier League will take place on Sunday at the City Ground in Nottingham, where the local Nottingham Forest will host London’s Crystal Palace. I’m offering a bet on the outcome of this match with an attractive odds value.
- See also: Aston Villa vs Brentford: prediction, head-to-head and probable line-ups – 1 February 2026
Match preview
Forest, after a managerial change, has finally found some stability. Under Sean Dyche, the team is unbeaten in three consecutive rounds and, crucially, defeated direct rivals Brentford in the last matchday. The club also performed well in the Europa League, which boosted the squad’s morale.
That said, their attacking stats remain modest: only Wolverhampton have scored fewer. However, what matters more is that Forest have traditionally been a tough opponent for Palace: ten matches unbeaten, including a draw in the first half of the season. With the injury list not getting any shorter, much will depend on young leaders like Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus.
It’s been a disastrous spell for the Eagles: 11 matches without a win, knocked out of the Cup, and missed chances in European competitions. Oliver Glasner’s side is teetering near the relegation zone, and a brutal fixture list looms. The recent loss to Chelsea epitomized their campaign – unfinished business, defensive lapses, and a toothless attack.
The situation is made worse by Wharton’s suspension and the possible absence of Clyne, while Doucouré and Kamada have yet to recover. Motivation among the visitors has clearly dipped after the manager’s departure was announced, and their away form speaks for itself: five straight defeats in all competitions.
Probable line-ups
- Nottingham Forest: Sels, Aina, Milenković, Murillo, Williams, Anderson, Sangaré, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Domínguez, Igor Jesus
- Crystal Palace: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Kanwo, Muñoz, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell, Pino, Mateta, Sarr
Match facts and head-to-head
- Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in their last 10 official matches against Crystal Palace.
- The last two out of three head-to-head games at the City Ground ended in a 1-0 win for the hosts.
- Crystal Palace have lost their last three Premier League away fixtures.
Prediction
Forest’s form inspires cautious optimism – they have finally found their rhythm and are making the most of home advantage. Palace, on the other hand, are falling apart: managerial exit, injuries, suspensions, and a string of failures have dismantled their structure. Considering all of the above and the head-to-head stats, a narrow home win looks like the logical outcome.
