Crystal Palace in Crisis: 156 Days Without a Win

As expected, the Premier League battle between Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace on Monday was close and tight, with the home team – missing their two best players – eventually overcoming the visitors from the capital by a single goal margin. Forest climbed to eighth place in the Premier League table, while Palace remained below the relegation line, still without a single win to their name.

Knock on Wood

Equally unsurprising as the tight, low-scoring affair was that Chris Wood emerged as the sole scorer. Forest fans were anything but impressed when the club’s management decided to give the striker a permanent contract after a loan period that produced just one goal and a long-term injury – nothing more, nothing less. However, the £15 million sent to Newcastle is now proving to be a good deal. Wood finished last season as the club’s top scorer, and this season, the 32-year-old has scored five of the team's total eight goals. Only three players (Haaland, Mbeumo, and Cole Palmer) have scored more.

Goalless and Discouraged

Like Wood, Crystal Palace also has five goals this season. Last season’s big scoring hero has netted two of them, but Jean-Philippe Mateta has since been benched. The responsibility has instead been handed to Arsenal acquisition Eddie Nketiah, who has yet to deliver. The summer signing has played five games in a Palace shirt but remains without any goals or assists. Eberechi Eze is still a joy to watch, but the former QPR star hasn’t been able to replicate last season’s output. The search is now on for the goals that disappeared when Michael Olise was sold to Bayern Munich.

Santo Praised

Nuno Espírito Santo did not make an immediate impact at Nottingham Forest, and there was considerable skepticism ahead of the new season. However, Nuno and his men have responded by becoming the surprise package of the autumn. Forest is the only team to have beaten Liverpool this season, and only Liverpool has conceded fewer goals. On Monday, Forest was without both Morgan Gibbs-White and James Ward-Prowse, but with a sharp Matz Sels in goal, one score was enough to secure three more points.

Crystal Palace Boss Unfazed by Job Security

While Nuno is now hailed as the new savior at City Ground, Oliver Glasner has gone from hero to zero at Selhurst Park. Glasner was praised to the skies for the job he did with The Eagles after taking over from Roy Hodgson. Under Glasner’s leadership, Palace collected 19 out of the last 21 possible points last season, finishing with a Premier League club record. However, since their 5-0 win against Aston Villa in the season finale, it’s now been 156 days without a victory.

Things could get worse, with a tough match against local rivals Tottenham next weekend. For Glasner, the next away game against Wolves is seen as a potential deadline. Without a win there, the Austrian could be out as Crystal Palace manager. Despite this, the former defender doesn’t seem particularly stressed by the situation.
“This isn’t about me. I’ve turned 50, and I don’t worry about my job. If someone in the club’s leadership believes it’s time for a managerial change, I’m sure they’ll let me know. The only thing that matters right now is how I can help the players regain their confidence,” the Crystal Palace boss told the English press.