The City Ground prepares for a crucial survival scrap as the Tricky Trees seek to pull clear of danger. Fresh from a hard-fought draw against Arsenal, the hosts face the Eagles, who are stuck in a ten-match winless streak. It pits Sean Dyche’s pragmatic approach against Oliver Glasner’s struggling system amidst significant internal London turmoil.
Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace Match Details at a Glance
| Match Detail | Information |
| Match | Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace |
| Venue | The City Ground |
| Date | February 1, 2026 |
| Time | 8:00 PM (BDT) / 7:30 PM (INR) |
| Broadcast & Live Streaming | Click here to watch the Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace live on Sports Live Hub (SLH) |
Injury News and Suspensions
Nottingham Forest
The hosts continue to navigate the campaign without veteran striker Chris Wood, sidelined with a knee injury until early February. John Victor also remains unavailable due to a similar knee issue, though he is expected back in late January. These absences leave the home side thin on attacking depth tonight.
Crystal Palace
The visitors face a staggering injury list. Daniel Munoz, Edward Nketiah, Cheick Doucouré, Caleb Kporha, and Rio Cardines are all nursing various ailments with late January return dates. Daichi Kamada remains out until late February with a hamstring strain, severely depleting the squad depth during this difficult period of form.
Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace Head-to-Head Records
| Matches Played | 70 |
| Nottingham Forest Won | 30 |
| Crystal Palace Won | 16 |
| Tied | 24 |
| First-ever Fixture | September 2, 1905 |
| Most-recent Fixture | August 24, 2025 |
Form Guide
Nottingham Forest
Under Sean Dyche, the side has traded flair for functional, defensive stability. They currently focus on a low-block, percentage-based philosophy designed to grind out points against superior opposition. While goal-scoring remains a significant weakness, the creative spark provided by Morgan Gibbs-White is essential for their survival hopes. Defensive resilience, led by Neco Williams, has become their defining trait as they battle to stay in the division.
Crystal Palace
The visitors are in freefall, currently enduring a miserable ten-match winless run. Internal friction and the manager’s impending departure have completely eroded the squad’s defensive stability. Despite attempting to maintain a high-intensity, vertical style, a lack of confidence and key injuries have neutralized their threat. Jean-Philippe Mateta remains the primary outlet, but the team’s total loss of tactical cohesion makes every fixture an uphill struggle.
Also read:- Manchester United vs Fulham Prediction | Premier League 2025/26 | EPL Prediction
Key Battles
Morgan Gibbs-White vs Adam Wharton
Morgan Gibbs-White is the creative heartbeat of the home side, tasked with turning defensive transitions into scoring chances. His vision and set-piece delivery are vital in a system that often prioritizes stability over possession. He thrives in the pockets of space, looking to unlock defenses with quick, technical play.
Based on the players available, a likely key duel is Adam Wharton attempting to stifle this creative flow. As the midfield anchor for the visitors, his interception rate and composure are critical. He must disrupt the host’s playmaking rhythm to prevent the Eagles from being overwhelmed in the middle.
Murillo vs Jean-Philippe Mateta
Murillo has become a cornerstone of the hosts’ resilient backline under the new pragmatic regime. His physical strength and reading of the game allow him to dominate aerial duels and clear danger effectively. He will be responsible for ensuring the opposition’s focal point has no room to turn or shoot.
Jean-Philippe Mateta remains the visitors’ most dangerous individual threat despite the overall lack of team form. His hold-up play and power are essential for the Eagles’ vertical transitions. If he can bypass the home side’s central defenders, he might find the rare opportunity needed to end their winless streak.
Tactical Outlook
The home side will surrender possession and maintain a compact, rigid defensive shape. Dyche’s philosophy relies on minimizing risks in the build-up and utilizing Hudson-Odoi’s pace on the break. By saturating the defensive third and forcing play wide, they aim to frustrate the opposition and capitalize on set-piece opportunities through the pinpoint accuracy of their creative midfield leaders tonight.
The visitors will attempt to press high and transition vertically, but their current lack of cohesion makes this high-risk. Glasner’s system requires intense energy which is currently missing due to low morale. Defensively, they look vulnerable to simple long balls and wide overloads. Without a stable defensive platform, their attacking intent often leaves them wide open to clinical counter-attacking maneuvers.
Possible Playing Squad
Nottingham Forest XI:
Sels (GK), Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Sangaré, Anderson, Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, Dominguez, Igor Jesus
Crystal Palace XI:
Henderson (GK), Richards, Lacroix, Lerma, Devenny, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell, Johnson, Pino, Mateta
Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace Today’s Match Prediction
The hosts hold the upper hand given their recent defensive stability and the visitors’ ongoing internal collapse. While the Tricky Trees lack clinical finishing, they possess enough tactical discipline to stifle a demoralized opponent. Expect a low-scoring affair where home advantage and a pragmatic blueprint eventually prove to be decisive.
Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace Score Prediction
Nottingham Forest 1–0 Crystal Palace; the hosts secure a vital win through a Gibbs-White set-piece, exploiting the visitors’ defensive instability and total lack of confidence in the final third.
FAQ: Premier League 2025/26
Who is the current manager of Nottingham Forest?
Sean Dyche took over in October 2025 to implement a more pragmatic tactical approach.
Where will the match take place on February 1?
The game will be hosted at The City Ground, the home of the Tricky Trees.
How long is the current winless streak for the visitors?
Crystal Palace is currently enduring a difficult ten-match winless run across all competitions this season.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City Prediction | Premier League 2025/26 | EPL Prediction | Feb 01 – Can City Close the Gap on Arsenal against Struggling Tottenham?
Sunderland vs Burnley Prediction | Premier League 2025/26 | EPL Prediction | Feb 02 – Can Burnley Find a Lifeline at the Stadium of Light?
Manchester United vs Fulham Prediction | Premier League 2025/26 | EPL Prediction | Feb 01 – Will Fulham Halt the Red Devils’ Winning Run?
Liverpool vs Newcastle United Prediction | Premier League 2025/26 | EPL Prediction | Feb 01 – Can Liverpool Finally Snap Their Winless Streak?
