Crystal Palace Under-21s travel to take on an in-form Nottingham Forest Under-21s in Premier League 2 Division One on Friday (16th January, 19:00 GMT), as the young Eagles look to bounce back and get back to winning ways. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of kick-off.
The match will be streamed live on Palace TV+ on Friday evening (16th January, 19:00 GMT) – click HERE to learn more about Palace TV+ and subscribe today!
Can’t watch live? Follow live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page, with a full match report and reaction available shortly after full-time in our Academy news section.
Highlights will also be available on Palace TV+.
Despite taking an early lead through David Obou, Palace fell to a 4-1 defeat away at Chelsea in Premier League 2 Division One at Cobham Training Centre on Saturday.
That result leaves the young Eagles 14th in the table on 14 points, but crucially still inside the top-16 positions. Just a solitary point separates Palace from Aston Villa, who currently lead the cross-cut play-off standings.
At the end of the regular season, the top 16 sides progress to the elimination play-offs, consisting of a round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. Teams finishing inside the top 16 also qualify for the Premier League International Cup the following season.
From 2025/26, a new competition has been introduced for sides finishing between 17th and 24th, who will enter a cross-category play-off alongside the top eight teams from the Professional Development League (Category Two). Powell’s side will of course be eager to finish inside the top 16.
Although Nottingham Forest currently sit one point behind Palace in 16th place, just above the cross-cut play-off positions, their recent form paints a very different picture. A strong end to 2025 has seen Forest embark on a ten-match unbeaten run across all competitions, winning nine and building significant momentum.
Most recently, Forest claimed a convincing 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers to move clear of the cross-cut play-off places and into the all-important top 16.
The 2025/26 campaign began with a 2-0 defeat to National League side Boreham Wood in the National League Cup. However, Forest started their Premier League 2 season positively, beating West Ham 1-0 before earning a 2-2 draw with Arsenal despite a second-half fightback from the Gunners.
A narrow 1-0 defeat to Tottenham rounded off August and was followed by an 11-match winless spell. The standout moment during that run came in the EFL Trophy, where Kaden Thompson’s dramatic 88th-minute equaliser forced penalties against Tranmere Rovers, though Forest eventually exited after a 9-8 shootout defeat.
Momentum shifted in November with a 2-0 win over Sunderland, which sparked Forest’s current unbeaten streak. They have since won all five of their Premier League Cup matches against Swansea, Wolves and Millwall, topping Group G with a six-point cushion and a game in hand. Their final match of 2025 ended with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Wolves.
While Forest’s EFL Trophy and National League Cup campaigns ended early, their league and Premier League Cup form has been exceptional.
Forest expected starting XI: Campbell, Broomes, J. Thompson, Hanks, Whitehall, Anisjko, Sinclair, McClure, Berry, K. Thompson, Smith.
Fuad Smith and Zyan Blake are both pushing for starting roles in the forward areas. First-team players Jair Cunha and Ola Aina featured for the U21s against Wolves as they continue their recovery from injury.
Should they return to first-team duties – which appears likely – either Zach Abbott or U18s defender Ethan Broomes could step into the back line, with Anisjko potentially pushed further forward following a tactical reshuffle. Full-back Ben Hammond may also feature after being included in the matchday squad last time out.
Forest arrive in formidable form, unbeaten in ten matches and winners of nine during that run, including victories in each of their last four outings.
Defensively, they have been equally impressive, recording five clean sheets and conceding just four goals across those ten games, while scoring 18 at the other end. Forest also boast a 100% record in the Premier League Cup and have recently claimed PL2 victories over Leeds United, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers.
Adam Berry ended 2025 in fine form, scoring twice in a 2-1 Premier League Cup victory over Millwall.
The 19-year-old joined Forest’s academy from Manchester United last year and made 10 Premier League 2 appearances during the 2024/25 campaign. A trusted figure under Warren Joyce, Berry has maintained that consistency this season, featuring in 22 of Forest’s 23 matches.
In 2025/26, he has scored twice in PL2 and added three goals in the Premier League Cup. A versatile and creative attacker, Berry can operate across the forward line and poses a constant threat through both his creativity and finishing.
Warren Joyce has overseen Nottingham Forest’s youth development since 2021 and boasts one of the most decorated CVs in academy football.
A former professional midfielder, Joyce enjoyed lengthy spells with Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End and Hull City, later becoming player-manager at Hull during the club’s famous “Great Escape” from relegation.
After retiring from playing, Joyce built an outstanding reputation in youth development with Manchester United, Leeds United and Tranmere Rovers. At United, he co-managed the Reserves alongside Ole Gunnar Solskjær, winning six league titles and helping develop players including Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Adnan Januzaj.
His coaching career also includes spells at Royal Antwerp, Wigan Athletic, Melbourne City and Salford City, where he lifted the EFL Trophy. Joyce joined Forest in 2021, guiding the club to their first-ever FA Youth Cup final in 2022 before stepping up to U21s manager.
In 2024/25, he led Forest to Premier League International Cup success – the first in the club’s illustrious history.
The match will be streamed live on Palace TV+ on Friday evening (16th January, 19:00 GMT) – click HERE to learn more about Palace TV+ and subscribe today!
Can’t watch live? Follow live commentary on our Academy X (Twitter) page, with a full match report and reaction available shortly after full-time in our Academy news section.
Highlights will also be available on Palace TV+.
Nottingham Forest Under-21s v Crystal Palace Under-21s
