On Monday night, winless Crystal Palace will play a Nottingham Forest team without Nuno Espirito Santo at the City Ground in the 2024–25 Premier League, hoping that the eighth time will be the charm.
Before the international break, the Tricky Trees managed to draw 1-1 with Chelsea, but on their own field, the Eagles lost 1-0 to league leaders Liverpool.
Two Saturdays ago, Nottingham Forest showed off their defensive prowess at the home of free-scoring Chelsea. They kept Cole Palmer and company at bay for over an hour at Stamford Bridge, where Chris Wood's goal put West London in danger.
The hosts would go on the warpath as James Ward-Prowse was hilariously sent out for handball, but 10-man Garibaldi refused to go down waving the white flag. The away end's hysteria, however, lasted only eight minutes as Noni Madueke found a gap to square matters.
The highlight of the 105-minute contest was ultimately the goalkeeping tandem of Robert Sanchez and Matz Sels, which prolonged Forest's winless run in the top league to three games, albeit they still only have one loss after seven games.
With Saturday's results placing Forest twelfth in the Premier League standings, Monday's match will be the first of three games without Santo in the dugout. The Tricky Trees manager received a two-game suspension for his inappropriate behaviour against Brighton & Hove Albion, which also resulted in a suspended one-match ban.
The highlight of the 105-minute contest was ultimately the goalkeeping tandem of Robert Sanchez and Matz Sels, which prolonged Forest's winless run in the top league to three games, albeit they still only have one loss after seven games.
With Saturday's results placing Forest twelfth in the Premier League standings, Monday's match will be the first of three games without Santo in the dugout. The Tricky Trees manager received a two-game suspension for his inappropriate behaviour against Brighton & Hove Albion, which also resulted in a suspended one-match ban.
The Portuguese will look on helplessly as his Forest team tries to end a depressing seven-game losing streak at the City Ground in all competitions. They haven't lost eight straight at home since 2012, but only Liverpool (two) have allowed fewer goals at the end so far than Forest's six.
The Portuguese will look on helplessly as his Forest team tries to end a depressing seven-game losing streak at the City Ground in all competitions. They haven't lost eight straight at home since 2012, but only Liverpool (two) have allowed fewer goals at the end so far than Forest's six.
The Eagles finished that game in 18th place, behind the dotted line. While 10 goals given up is the greatest defensive record in the bottom six, the top flight's poorest attacking record right now is a pitiful five goals.
Three of those efforts, though, have come away from home. Palace hasn't lost any of their opening eight league games since 1992–93, when they finished 20th and were demoted. They are currently on a six-game scoring streak in the Premier League since a 1-0 loss to Bournemouth at the start of April.
In addition, the Eagles supporters must look back to December 2011 for their team's most recent victory over Forest, in which Glenn Murray scored the game's lone goal. Since then, the Tricky Trees have won seven straight meetings, though five of those have ended in a draw.
