The lowdown on Nottingham Forest 1 Crystal Palace 0 – Eagles let point slip through their grasp
BY ADAM SELLS
It’s now eight games without a victory, as Crystal Palace let a point slip both literally and metaphorically from their grasp.
It was yet another occasion when the Eagles could and should have taken a point, but a blunt attack and the conceding of a type of goal rarely seen at Premier League level meant that Oliver Glasner’s men returned from the East Midlands with nothing to show for their efforts.
Here is the lowdown on the match.
THE LINE-UPS
Palace: Henderson, Munoz, Lacroix, Guehi, Chalobah, Mitchell [Schlupp 74], Lerma, Hughes [Sarr 74], Kamada [Agbinone 88], Eze, Nketiah [Mateta 67].
Subs: Matthews, Ward, Clyne, Wharton, Kporha.
Forest: Sels, Murillo, Anderson [Williams 78], Wood [Awoniyi 84], Hudson-Odoi [Sosa 84], Dominguez, Moreno [Morato 78], Elanga [Silva 63], Yates, Milenkovic, Aina.
Subs: Miguel, Omobamidele, Toffolo, Boly.
SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME
There wasn’t a great deal in the game, though when a team struggles to carve out clear cut chances, mistakes at the other end are even more critical.
So it proved at the City Ground as Chris Wood’s speculative shot bounced inside the post with Dean Henderson caught out.
The visitors in contrast best efforts came from range, with Matz Sels the Forest keeper pulling off a couple of magnificent saves from Eberechi Eze and Jeffery Schlupp.
TACTICAL APPROACH
Palace boss Glasner tweaked his formation to 3-5-2, employing Eze up alongside Eddie Nketiah.
Daichi Kamada came into midfield with Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma.
Nketiah was bright and sharp, but too often he and Eze were isolated as Palace failed to get bodies around them. Kamada was industrious during the first half, but faded and was eventually replaced by debutant Asher Agbinone.
After failing behind Glasner switched to 4-2-3-1 but it didn’t click, even with the changes in personnel.
STAR MAN
Marc Guehi was cool and calm in the back three, showing exactly why he is so well thought of by everybody in the game.
His superb reading of the game, athleticism and composure all stood out on the night.
BEST MOMENT
It would have to be Nketiah’s superb strike that hit the angle of bar and post, or Eze’s venomous, dipping shot that was repelled by Sels.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
Palace’s attacking play was slow and methodical, again. The lack of pace and thrust in attack, means that scoring on the counter attack has become almost impossible. It could be argued that all eight games thus far could have ended in draws, but the Eagles are the lowest scorers in the Premier League and are desperately needing to find a winning formula.
TALKING POINTS DOWN THE PUB
Given the lack of genuine ball carriers and threat, is it time to take a chance on the afore mentioned Agbinone?
His ability and willingness to go past people, may provide a much-needed missing ingredient.
The academy product has a real turn of speed from a standing start and may provide some unpredictability to the front line.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“He [Henderson] tried to apologise, but I wouldn’t allow it.
“It’s not about blaming anybody. He made so many big saves for us this season and last season.
“It’s sport and they’re all human – it happens. But he doesn’t need to apologise for any mistake he makes.
“It’s always how we deal with the mistakes and it took us five or 10 minutes.
“This is what gives me a positive feeling for our next games. I don’t expect any easy game against Tottenham – they’re a great team and very attacking.
“They’re the challenges we have. We will need Dean and he will help us.”