Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace Preview

Posted on | March 23, 2010 | No Comments

There were mixed views on how Nottingham Forest would shape up this season, with the City Ground outfit acting as one of the division’s big spenders and completely revamping their squad. Those summer purchases have well and truly paid off though and Billy Davies’ men now look to be locked in a race for one of the automatic promotion positions. This is a far cry away from opponents Crystal Palace, who are battling for their lives after receiving a ten point penalty for going into administration.

They may have had a fantastic season, but Nottingham Forest desperately need to stabilize their form if they are to push 2nd place West Brom right to the very end. Billy Davies’ men occupied that 2nd position for much of the season but three defeats from their last five has meant that they are now eight points behind the Baggies. Considering the fact they were battling relegation at this point last season, Forest supporters would obviously gladly accept a playoff finish. Yet still, they have done fantastically well to work themselves into this position and after narrowly beating Peterborough in their last game, Billy Davies will be hoping that his side is back to winning ways.

Crystal Palace on the other hand are having a truly miserable time at the other end of the table and their supporters must be thinking that it just can’t get any worse. They’ve lost key players, lost a well-respected manager and obviously endured that taxing ten point penalty. This has left  them in 22nd position although just the one point separates them from safety. However, having collected just two points from their last four games form is hardly on their side and Paul Hart knows that he has a huge job on to save the club from relegation. Coincidently, Hart enjoyed his most successful spell in management with Forest a few years ago when he led them to the playoffs. The Palace faithful will be hoping that sort of experience will go some way into saving their side from the drop.

As for team news, the home side have a whole host of problems and Billy Davies will be without a few key players. James Perch looks set to miss out with an ankle injury, while Paul McKenna, Julian Bennett, Joel Lynch and Garath McClearly are also on the treatment table. It’s a lighter situation for Crystal Palace although Paul Hart will definitely be without the services of Claude Davis who sits out through suspension. Elsewhere, Nathaniel Clyne and Neil Danns are both touch and go and will be assessed closer to kickoff.

Forest may have stuttered recently but we think this should be a fairly straightforward game for them. The club have won their last eleven league games at home and we firmly expect them to notch another here. Palace will put up a fight, but we’ll predict a 3-1 Forest victory here.

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