Premier League | 11 October 2026 | Selhurst Park
Crystal Palace turned a difficult afternoon into a memorable victory, recovering from an early setback to beat Nottingham Forest 3–1 at Selhurst Park. Dan Ndoye gave the visitors an immediate advantage, but Palace responded with three goals of their own through Daichi Kamada, a Jefferson Lerma header that was deflected over the line by Anan Khalaili, and Yéremy Pino.
The result was about more than the final score. Forest created several dangerous opportunities and looked capable of extending their lead during the first half. Palace, however, remained in the contest thanks to important saves from Walter Benítez before showing greater efficiency when their own chances arrived.
For Palace, the comeback provided a valuable home victory and a confidence boost. For Forest, it was a frustrating reminder that creating opportunities is only part of the job: teams must also take those chances before an opponent changes the direction of a match.
Read Crystal Palace's official match report.
Watch Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest Highlights
Watch the key moments from Crystal Palace's comeback victory over Nottingham Forest. The video is supplied through YouTube and remains subject to the publisher's availability settings.
Ndoye Gives Nottingham Forest an Early Advantage
Forest needed only three minutes to make their presence felt. A defensive misunderstanding involving Anan Khalaili allowed Dan Ndoye to move into a dangerous position, and the forward kept his composure to guide the ball beyond Benítez.
The early goal gave Forest exactly the kind of start that can unsettle a home team. Palace suddenly had to chase the match, while the visitors could look to use their pace and movement to exploit spaces left behind by the home side's attacking players.
Forest built on that opening rather than retreating immediately. Morgan Gibbs-White threatened from the edge of the area, Daniel Muñoz found space at the far post, and Ndoye continued to trouble the Palace defence. The visitors' forward movement created a series of situations in which the home side had to defend under pressure.
One of the defining moments arrived when Gibbs-White struck the crossbar and Liam Delap followed up, only for Benítez to produce an outstanding close-range save. That intervention was crucial. Had Forest doubled their advantage, Palace would have faced a much more difficult task in recovering.
The opening half therefore offered a useful lesson in the difference between attacking pressure and scoreboard control. Forest created the clearer chances for long periods, but their failure to convert them left the door open for Palace.
Kamada Brings Palace Back Into the Match
Palace needed a moment of quality to change the atmosphere at Selhurst Park, and Daichi Kamada provided it in the 41st minute. The move developed through quick passing and intelligent movement, with Jørgen Strand Larsen helping the ball reach the Japanese midfielder inside the penalty area.
Kamada finished calmly beyond Matz Sels to make it 1–1. The goal followed a period in which Forest had looked the more dangerous team, making the equaliser especially important for the home side's confidence.
Rather than relying on an isolated long ball or a hopeful cross, Palace found a route through a coordinated attacking move. The combination of close control, quick decisions and movement off the ball created the opening that the team had struggled to find earlier.
The equaliser also changed the psychological balance of the contest. Forest had been unable to turn their opportunities into a second goal, while Palace suddenly had evidence that their own attacking combinations could hurt the visitors.
A Dramatic Turnaround Before Half-Time
Palace did not stop after getting back on level terms. In first-half stoppage time, Adam Wharton's corner caused problems in the Forest penalty area. Jefferson Lerma rose to meet the delivery, and his header was deflected by Khalaili before the ball crossed the line.
The goal was officially credited to Khalaili in Crystal Palace's match report, although Lerma's header was central to the move. Whatever the final attribution, the result was the same: Palace had turned a one-goal deficit into a 2–1 lead before the interval.
For Forest, the timing was painful. They had enjoyed a strong spell and created several chances, yet two Palace goals in the closing stages of the first half completely changed the scoreline. The visitors had to process that setback while also preparing to find a way back into the game after the break.
Palace, meanwhile, could head into the dressing room with renewed belief. Their comeback showed the value of staying composed even when the opposition appears to have control. They had defended difficult moments, taken their opportunity to equalise and then capitalised on a set-piece situation.
Forest Push Again After the Restart
The second half began with Forest once again looking for a response. Gibbs-White threatened with a header that took a deflection and struck the post, while the visitors continued to search for openings around the Palace penalty area.
Those moments demonstrated that the match was still far from settled. Palace had the lead, but Forest remained capable of creating chances. Benítez's positioning and reflexes continued to be important, while the home defenders needed to stay alert to runners arriving from midfield.
For Palace, the challenge was to balance defensive responsibility with the opportunity to attack the spaces Forest were leaving behind. Committing too many players forward could expose them to a counterattack, but sitting too deep would allow the visitors to build pressure without interruption.
The hosts eventually found the right moment to exploit that balance. Their third goal came from a transition in which they moved forward quickly and took advantage of the gaps left by Forest's attempts to get back into the match.
Pino Makes It 3–1 and Gives Palace Breathing Space
In the 59th minute, Yéremy Pino extended Palace's advantage. Jørgen Strand Larsen's attempt was stopped by Sels, but the rebound fell into Pino's path. The Spaniard reacted quickly and guided the ball into the net to make it 3–1.
The goal was a clear example of why attacking moves should continue until the danger has passed. Sels had initially made a save, but Palace were alert to the second ball and positioned to take advantage when the rebound appeared.
Pino's finish also changed the demands on both teams. Forest now needed two goals to recover, which meant taking greater risks and committing more players forward. That created additional space for Palace to exploit, particularly when possession changed hands.
Palace still had defensive work to do, but the two-goal cushion gave them greater freedom to choose their moments. Instead of chasing the game, they could focus on maintaining their shape, protecting the central areas and attacking when a clear opportunity emerged.
Benítez Helps Palace Protect Their Lead
Although Palace had scored three times, Forest continued to search for a route back. Chris Wood came close to reducing the deficit, but Benítez produced another important save to preserve the home side's advantage.
The goalkeeper's contribution was central to the result. Palace's attackers deserve credit for taking their chances, but the comeback would have been much harder without the saves that kept Forest from building a commanding lead during the opening stages.
Good goalkeeping is not only about stopping shots; it can also help a team remain composed during difficult periods. Benítez gave his defenders confidence that the advantage could be protected, even when Forest found room to attack.
Palace managed the closing stages with greater control, while Forest ran out of time to turn their attacking effort into another goal. The final whistle confirmed a 3–1 victory for the home side.
What the Result Means for Crystal Palace
For Palace, the most encouraging aspect was their ability to respond to adversity. They conceded early, survived several dangerous Forest attacks and then showed composure when their own opportunities arrived.
Kamada's equaliser demonstrated the value of combination play, the set-piece before half-time gave the team a decisive advantage, and Pino's finish provided the breathing space needed to manage the remainder of the contest.
The performance also highlighted the importance of having a goalkeeper capable of delivering under pressure. Benítez's saves allowed Palace to remain close enough to turn the match around, even during periods when Forest looked more threatening.
There are still areas for improvement. Palace cannot always rely on their goalkeeper to rescue them from defensive mistakes, and conceding so many promising chances will be a concern for the coaching staff. However, the result gives the team a positive foundation to build on.
Nottingham Forest Must Be More Clinical
Forest will look back at the first half with understandable frustration. They started quickly, scored early and created enough opportunities to establish a stronger lead. Instead, their missed chances allowed Palace to stay alive in the contest.
The problem was not simply a lack of attacking intent. Forest found space, moved the ball into dangerous areas and forced Benítez into several excellent interventions. The difference came in the decisive moments, when Palace finished their chances and Forest did not.
Defensive concentration also became important around half-time. Conceding once can happen during an attacking match, but allowing the opposition to score again before the break changed the entire context of the second half.
Forest can take encouragement from their ability to create opportunities, but the next step is to convert that pressure into goals while maintaining greater discipline when defending transitions and set pieces.
Final Verdict: Palace Turn Resilience Into a Statement Win
Crystal Palace's 3–1 victory over Nottingham Forest was shaped by a combination of resilience, clinical finishing and decisive goalkeeping. Forest made the stronger start and created several excellent chances, but Palace stayed in the contest and took control with two goals just before half-time.
Kamada's composed finish restored parity, the corner that led to Palace's second turned the game around, and Pino's rebound goal made the advantage more comfortable. Benítez then helped ensure that Forest's later attempts did not produce another breakthrough.
For Palace, the match offered a valuable home win and evidence that they can respond when a game begins badly. For Forest, the result highlighted the cost of missed opportunities and defensive lapses at crucial moments.
The final score may suggest a straightforward victory, but the contest was far more competitive than that. Palace earned the points by making the most of the moments that mattered most.
Final score: Crystal Palace 3–1 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest scorer: Dan Ndoye (3')
Crystal Palace scorers: Daichi Kamada (41'), Anan Khalaili (45+4', credited after a deflection from Lerma's header), Yéremy Pino (59')
Key performer: Walter Benítez, whose saves helped Palace stay in the contest.
Sources
- Crystal Palace FC — Official match report and highlights
- Nottingham Forest FC — Official match report
- Sky Sports — Match report and key moments
- Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest — Highlights video supplied for this article
Editorial note: This article offers original match analysis based on verified match information. Club reports and other sources are linked for reference. Video footage remains the property of its respective rights holder.
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