Our Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest prediction points to another tight, low-scoring game at Selhurst Park. The match kicks off at 13:00 UTC (14:00 BST) on Sunday 11 October 2026, in Gameweek 6 of the Premier League. Moreover, both sides have made slow starts to the season. As a result, neither team can afford to lose ground before the end of October.

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest Prediction: Match Preview

Crystal Palace are 15th in the table with 4 points from five games. They have won one, drawn one and lost three. In addition, their defence has been a real problem, with 11 goals conceded, one of the worst records in the league. Still, they have scored 6 goals, so there is some threat going forward.

Nottingham Forest are only slightly better off. They sit 13th on 5 points, with one win, two draws and two defeats. However, their profile is very different. Forest have conceded just 5 goals, but they have also scored only 4. Therefore, this is a meeting between a leaky Palace defence and a blunt Forest attack.

Head-to-Head Record

This fixture is famous for draws. In fact, five of the last six meetings have ended level, and Palace have not beaten Forest in any of them. Every one of those six games produced two goals or fewer. Here are the last five results:

  • Feb 2026 (League): Forest 1-1 Palace
  • Aug 2025 (League): Palace 1-1 Forest
  • May 2025 (League): Forest 1-1 Palace
  • Oct 2024 (League): Forest 1-0 Palace
  • Mar 2024 (League): Palace 1-1 Forest

That pattern is hard to ignore. When these clubs meet, they usually cancel each other out.

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest form guide and head-to-head


Key Battle: Wharton vs Gibbs-White

Adam Wharton sets the tempo for Palace from deep and is their best passer. On the other side, Morgan Gibbs-White is the creative heart of Forest. Whoever controls the middle of the pitch will likely control the game. If Wharton dictates play, Palace can pin Forest back. Otherwise, Gibbs-White will find space between the lines and feed the Forest forwards on the counter.

What to Expect at Selhurst Park

Expect a cagey first half. Palace will try to use the energy of the home crowd, while Forest are happy to defend deep and break quickly. Set pieces could be decisive, because chances from open play may be rare. Meanwhile, both managers know a defeat would drag their team towards the bottom three. For that reason, neither side is likely to take big risks early on.

Team News

Team news will be confirmed after the pre-match press conferences. Both squads have players returning from international duty, so fitness will be checked late. Therefore, check the confirmed line-ups one hour before kick-off.

Kick-off Times and How to Watch

The match kicks off at 13:00 UTC (14:00 BST) on Sunday 11 October 2026 at Selhurst Park in London. That is 09:00 ET in Canada, 14:00 WAT in Nigeria, 15:00 SAST in South Africa, 16:00 EAT in Kenya, 18:30 IST in India and 15:00 CEST in Norway and Sweden. Broadcast rights differ by country, so check your local broadcaster before the game.

Betting Tips

The head-to-head record makes the goals market our best angle. All six recent meetings have finished with two goals or fewer. In addition, Forest's games this season have averaged fewer than two goals. On top of that, five draws in six meetings make the draw a strong value option at bigger odds.

  • Main tip: Under 2.5 goals
  • Value tip: Draw
  • Bonus tip: Draw at half-time
  • Predicted score: Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Pick

Pick: Under 2.5 goals

Final Verdict

Overall, both teams need points, but history tells us this fixture rarely produces much excitement. Therefore, our Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest prediction is a low-scoring draw. For more weekend analysis, read our Liverpool vs Man City prediction and our Arsenal vs Leeds prediction, and check the latest Premier League table.

FAQ

Who will win Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest?

We expect a draw, with 1-1 as our predicted score.

What time does Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest kick off?

The game kicks off at 13:00 UTC (14:00 BST) on Sunday 11 October 2026 at Selhurst Park.

How often do Palace and Forest draw?

Five of their last six meetings have ended in a draw, and none of those games had more than two goals.

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