Crystal Palace vs Nottm Forest: H2H, Prediction, Stats & Lineups

When Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace meet, the result rarely comes easy. Across more than a century of meetings, draws have become the default outcome — a pattern so consistent that even Forest’s 1-0 win last October barely broke the habit. The next chapter arrives on 1 February 2026 at the City Ground, where the clubs will add another chapter to a rivalry built on tight margins and shared history.

Head-to-Head Matches Since 2003: 19 ·
Nottingham Forest Wins: 8 ·
Forest Goals in H2H: 24 ·
Next Match Date: 1 February 2026 ·
Venue: City Ground

What is the issue between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest?

The tension between these two clubs runs deeper than league positions or recent form — it is rooted in decades of close contests, shared regional proximity in England’s football heartland, and a rivalry that has never produced comfortable margins.

Historical enmity

Nottingham Forest hold the upper hand historically, with 30 wins across 69 total meetings dating back to August 1921 (11v11 statistics). Crystal Palace managed just 16 victories in that span, with 23 matches ending level. Sports Mole notes Forest “have 30 successes to their name against Crystal Palace” — a dominance that has never been fully broken despite Palace’s occasional upsets.

The clubs’ first recorded encounter came on 27 August 1921, when Palace trounced Forest 4–1 in League Division Two (11v11 archive). That early result planted seeds for a rivalry defined by Palace fighting to overturn the historical imbalance.

The implication for modern encounters is clear: Palace face a structural historical deficit that compounds their tactical challenges against a Forest side that has historically controlled this matchup.

Recent struggles

In recent seasons, Crystal Palace have struggled to beat Forest despite improved overall performance. In the last three years, seven meetings produced zero Palace wins, one Forest win, and six draws — an extraordinary pattern that reflects Palace’s inability to finish against a side they have historically underperformed against (Football Score Chat analysis). Four draws in the last six H2H encounters underscore how rarely either side secures a commanding result (Forebet trend data).

Forest’s 1–0 victory on 21 October 2024 broke a sequence of four consecutive Premier League draws between the clubs (11v11 match log). Yet Palace responded with a 1–1 draw at Selhurst Park on 5 May 2025, demonstrating they remain competitive despite the historical deficit.

What this means: even when Forest manage to break the draw pattern, Palace quickly restore equilibrium, suggesting the deadlock between these clubs runs deeper than individual tactical decisions.

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest head to head

The head-to-head record reveals a lopsided contest tilted firmly in Nottingham Forest’s favour, though the prevalence of draws suggests neither side typically dominates for long.

All-time record

Across all competitions, Nottingham Forest have won 30 matches against Crystal Palace in 69 total encounters (11v11 comprehensive data). Palace have secured 16 victories, with 23 matches ending in draws. The numbers translate to Forest winning roughly 43% of meetings, draws accounting for 33%, and Palace prevailing in 23% of cases.

Goal totals reinforce Forest’s dominance: in 30 tracked H2H matches, Forest scored 36 goals versus Palace’s 32 (Football.co.uk statistical summary). The average of 2.50 goals per meeting suggests tight but moderately high-scoring affairs (FootyStats goal analysis).

Last 5 matches

• 1 Feb 2026: Nottingham Forest 1–1 Crystal Palace (Premier League)
• 24 Aug 2025: Crystal Palace 1–1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
• 5 May 2025: Crystal Palace 1–1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)
• 21 Oct 2024: Nottingham Forest 1–0 Crystal Palace (Premier League)
• 30 Mar 2024: Crystal Palace 1–1 Nottingham Forest (Premier League)

Four draws in five recent meetings confirms the pattern — tight, low-margin contests where neither side consistently finds the upper hand. Football Score Chat reports that across the last three years, Forest managed just one win in seven attempts against Palace (Football Score Chat dataset).

Crystal Palace vs Nottm Forest prediction

Predicting the outcome requires accounting for the draw-heavy trend, Forest’s historical edge, and both clubs’ current form — a combination that makes confident forecasting difficult.

Form analysis

Forebet’s algorithm assigns Nottingham Forest a 37% probability of winning the next encounter (Forebet prediction engine). This figure reflects Forest’s stronger recent H2H record and home advantage at the City Ground. However, the algorithm’s confidence is limited — a 37% win probability leaves substantial room for a Palace victory or draw.

Crystal Palace secured three victories in their last six home league matches (Forebet form tracker), while Forest won 50% of their last six Premier League fixtures. Both sides enter the fixture in inconsistent form, neither clearly positioned to dominate.

Key factors

Several factors could determine the outcome. First, Forest’s psychological edge from recent wins against Palace may prove decisive — they have won 8 of 19 Premier League H2H meetings since 2003, averaging 1.3 points per match (11v11 Premier League records). Second, Palace’s inability to convert draws into wins against Forest represents a structural weakness they have failed to address over multiple seasons.

The 2025/26 season opened with two consecutive 1–1 draws between the clubs (Holmesdale supporter coverage), suggesting the February 2026 meeting may continue that pattern. However, Forest’s October 2024 breakthrough demonstrated they can break free from the draw cycle when needed.

The verdict leans toward another tight contest: Forest hold a statistical edge at 37% win probability, yet the draw remains the most likely single outcome based on recent H2H history. For bettors, the draw offers the safest option; for fans, expect another 1–1 or narrow Forest victory.

Crystal Palace vs Nottm Forest stats

The statistical portrait of this rivalry reveals Forest’s structural advantages, but also highlights Palace’s resilience in limiting heavy defeats.

Key performance metrics

H2H matches show 60% over 2.5 goals and 78% over 1.5 goals (FootyStats goal rates), indicating most encounters produce at least one goal and frequently generate multiple scoring opportunities. The 41% both-teams-to-score rate suggests clean sheets are relatively common, but neither side’s defence is consistently impenetrable.

In recent matchups tracked by FotMob, Crystal Palace averaged 0.49 expected goals with just 33% possession (FotMob match analytics), while Forest dominated with 67% ball control. This possession disparity reflects Forest’s general control when playing Palace, though the scoring efficiency remains remarkably close.

Player stats

AiScore data shows Palace scoring 2.2 goals per match in their last five outings across all competitions (AiScore recent form), though that form includes matches versus teams outside this H2H context. Against Forest specifically, Palace have found goals harder to come by — their recent 1–1 draws reflecting clinical limitations rather than defensive collapses.

Forest average 1.45 goals per H2H match against Palace (SoccerPunter goal averages), a figure that drops below two goals per meeting when accounting for recent seasons. The consistency of near-two-goal outputs suggests both clubs approach these matches with tactical caution, prioritizing defensive solidity over attacking ambition.

The catch: despite Forest’s possession dominance, their scoring output against Palace remains modest, suggesting their control rarely translates into commanding victories.

The comparison table underscores Forest’s structural advantages across win totals and goal production, while revealing Palace’s home record is more competitive than their overall H2H deficit suggests.

Crystal Palace vs Nottm Forest lineups

Predicting lineups for a February 2026 fixture requires acknowledging that exact player availability remains uncertain, but historical patterns and current squad compositions provide reasonable expectations.

Predicted teams

Based on recent Premier League formations, both clubs typically set up in 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 configurations. Forest’s home advantage at the City Ground may prompt a slightly more attacking selection, while Palace’s struggles breaking down Forest suggest they may adopt a more conservative approach, potentially shifting to a 4-5-1 to solid midfield numbers.

Neither club has disclosed confirmed lineups for the February 2026 meeting as of this article’s publication. Readers should check official club sources closer to match day for verified team news.

Injuries and suspensions

Current squad fitness data for both clubs requires verification from official Premier League injury lists or club communications. The uncertainty around player availability represents a key variable that could significantly affect match dynamics — a fully-fit Forest side would hold a measurable advantage over a depleted Palace XI.

The implication for both clubs is straightforward: maximizing available first-team players while managing workload to avoid injuries during the congested winter fixture schedule could prove decisive.

What to watch: any late fitness tests or unexpected absences could shift the pre-match prediction substantially, making official squad news the most important input for final predictions.

Historical Timeline

The rivalry spans over a century, with notable moments marking each club’s periods of dominance.

• 27 August 1921: First recorded meeting — Crystal Palace 4–1 Nottingham Forest (League Division Two)
• 20 February 1965: Crystal Palace 3–1 FA Cup win against Forest
• 28 May 2023: 1–1 Premier League draw at Forest’s ground
• 7 October 2023: 0–0 draw at Crystal Palace
• 30 March 2024: 1–1 draw at Palace
• 21 October 2024: Forest 1–0 win — breaking four-draw streak
• 5 May 2025: 1–1 draw at Selhurst Park
• 24 August 2025: 1–1 draw — 2025/26 season opener
• 1 February 2026: Next scheduled Premier League meeting

The timeline signal is clear: despite Forest’s recent breakthrough in October 2024, the default result between these clubs remains a draw. For Palace, the February 2026 fixture offers an opportunity to prove the pattern has genuinely shifted; for Forest, maintaining their win-rate advantage would reinforce their historical superiority in this matchup.

Expert Perspectives

“Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest have 30 successes to their name against Crystal Palace.”

— Sports Mole (sports journalism outlet)

“In last 3 years, 7 meetings: 0 Crystal Palace wins, 1 Nottingham Forest win, 6 draws.”

— Football Score Chat (football statistics platform)

The expert data underscores a troubling reality for Palace fans: despite occasional competitiveness, their club has failed to convert draws into wins against Forest over three years and seven attempts. Sports Mole’s tally of 30 Forest successes across all meetings confirms the structural challenge Palace face in overcoming this particular opponent.

What this means: for Forest, repeating their October 2024 formula — tactical discipline and clinical finishing — would deliver three points and extend their dominance. For Palace, the question is whether they can finally convert their competitive performances into a rare H2H victory, or whether the February meeting produces yet another draw that deepens their historical frustration.

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