Crystal Palace found their first home win of the season the hard way, coming from behind to beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 and lift some of the early anxiety around Selhurst Park. Forest had plenty of the ball and enough chances to feel aggrieved, but Palace were sharper when the match turned.
In the dressing room
| Club | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Palace | Won 3-1 | 7 |
| Nottingham Forest | Lost 3-1 | 5 |
There had been little settling-in period. Forest struck after three minutes when Dan Ndoye pounced on an error by Anan Khalaili and drove a low finish inside Walter Benítez’s left-hand post.
The visitors carried that authority through much of the opening half. Their passing was quick, their chances were real, and Benítez had to make several important saves to stop the gap widening. Palace, meanwhile, struggled to play cleanly out from the back and repeatedly gave the ball away.
Yet football grounds have a habit of changing their mood in one move. Quinten Timber combined with Daichi Kamada in the box in the 41st minute, and Kamada swept a first-time left-footed effort in for the equaliser.
Palace took the hint. With half-time approaching, Adam Wharton delivered a corner and Jefferson Lerma headed the home side in front in added time. Forest had controlled long spells; Palace had scored twice when it mattered.
Forest’s missed moment
Forest began the second half with purpose and created three clear openings in the first seven minutes after the restart. Benítez was again central to Palace’s resistance, while the hosts gradually looked more composed than they had before the interval.
The decisive blow arrived on 59 minutes. Yéremy Pino finished right-footed from the middle of the area, placing his shot into the right side of the goal to make it 3-1.
That scoreline was harsh on Forest’s overall contribution, particularly given their command in parts of the first half and their bright start after the break. Still, the third goal drained some of their belief. They continued to push, tested Benítez again and spent the closing stages in Palace territory, but could not create the chance that might have made the finish uncomfortable.
Palace saw out the closing minutes with greater control, protecting their lead and giving their supporters a result to take home after a difficult start to the campaign. The seven-point return offers some breathing room above the drop, while Forest remain on five points and with questions still hanging over a side whose approach deserved more than it received at Selhurst Park.
The week ahead
For Palace, the task is to turn one stirring afternoon at home into a steadier run of results. Forest can take encouragement from the way they played for long spells, but the league does not offer points for promising passages. Their next fixture will demand the same ambition, with rather more care at both ends.
