Chris Sutton predicts who will win Premier League clash - Nottingham Forest or Crystal Palace

Today at 03:15 AM

Nottingham Forest face Crystal Palace in the Premier League tonight looking to claim an important first home victory this season.

It’s been contrasting fortunes for the Reds during 2024/25. Eight points have been taken away from the City Ground but just two have come on home soil.

Nuno Espirito Santo will be banned from the touchline tonight after being given an extended punishment following a red card against Brighton last month.

Furthermore, the talismanic Morgan Gibbs-White will also miss out. He was given another match on top of his red card but he’s injured for tonight’s game anyway.

Forest had a number of players on international duty over the last fortnight and it will be interesting to see what team can be picked tonight.

Seb Hutchinson has picked three players out as being so important for Forest and hopefully, the first three points can be claimed on Trentside.

• READ MORE: Predicted Nottingham Forest XI vs Crystal Palace

Chris Sutton delivers Nottingham Forest vs Crystal Palace prediction

It was only last week that Sutton made a prediction on Forest that he didn’t expect to be making at this stage of the season.

Forest are playing well away from home right now but ultimately, two points from games with Bournemouth, Wolves and Fulham at home is pretty drab.

Sutton has now predicted whether or not he thinks Forest will claim a victory tonight and he expects a very tight affair on Trentside.

He told BBC Sport: “Crystal Palace need the win more, that is for sure. You can tell by listening to their manager Oliver Glasner that he knows that he needs a positive result quickly, just to get that spark back from last season.

“Glasner wants to play this expansive brand of football but results mean a bit of doubt has crept in, and that is really evident from their performances.

“This all points towards a Nottingham Forest home win, which is what I’m going with, but the good news for Palace is that every time I predict one of those, they stuff it up – Forest are yet to win at the City Ground this season.”

Forest need to attack Palace from the off in City Ground clash

Sutton has predicted a narrow 1-0 win for Forest tonight and this can’t become a repeat of the game against Fulham last month.

Forest have to pick a side that utilises width and pace instead of packing out the midfield which is something that Espirito Santo did against Fulham.

Palace will come short on confidence and it’s imperative that Forest take firm advantage of their winless start to the season tonight.

The Eagles do have some talented players but ultimately, Forest will believe that this game can be a successful one of the strategy is right.

Hopefully, Sutton’s prediction is spot on and Forest need to make sure a win is secured by hook or by crook.