Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace Predictions

• Fewer than three goals have been scored in seven of Forest’s eight games this season
• Fewer than three goals have been scored in four of Palace’s last six Premier League matches
• Fewer than three goals have been scored in each of the last four meetings of the clubs
• Chris Wood has scored six goals in his last eight Premier League appearances

The form lines of Forest and Palace have flipped

Survival rivals when they last met, the fortunes of Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace have completely flipped ahead of their first Premier League meeting this season at The City Ground on Monday.

Both clubs were battling the drop when they drew 1-1 in Nottingham last March before Palace won six of their last seven games to finish comfortably in mid-table. Now it is Forest that are sitting pretty in 10th place with 10 points from seven games while the Eagles wallow in the relegation zone with a record of three draws and four defeats.

The pressure is firmly on Palace, who could fail to win any of their opening eight league games of a top-flight campaign for the first time since 1992-93. But Forest are without a win in six home league matches and may not quite have enough variety in attack to take all three points in this fixture.

Kiwi Wood is a polished finisher

Chris Wood has been in good form for Forest for some time and his recent goal tally makes him the obvious pick for an anytime goalscorer in this clash.

The New Zealand international, who registered in both games for the All Whites this month, has scored in five of his last eight Premier League games if you include the double he bagged on the final day of last season.

His goals per-90 minutes ratio of 0.7 was only bettered by Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak, Diogo Jota, Michael Olise and Cole Palmer last term while his 0.65 ratio this season puts him among the dozen most lethal finishers again.

Trends suggest goals will be scarce

Wood scored Forest’s leveller in that drawn March meeting and it may not be a total surprise to see that scoreline recorded again given five of the last six meetings finished all square with three of them featuring one goal apiece.

Certainly, there is enough of a trend in both teams’ recent results to suggest a tight game with few goals. Backing under 2.5 in the match is available at decent odds given fewer than three goals have been scored in seven of Forest’s eight games this season and also in four of Palace’s last six Premier League matches.

Forest have a significantly lower expected goals tally than the other the top-half teams and it is really more akin to that of a relegation battler. And although Palace have conceded 10 times their expected goals against figure is less than those of seven higher-placed clubs.