Report: Ruthless Palace chop down Forest

The Eagles earned a first home Premier League win of the season in emphatic fashion in the end, surviving long spells of pressure – thanks largely to an inspired display from goalkeeper Walter Benítez – before hitting Forest clinically on the break.

The visitors took an early lead through Dan Ndoye but Palace completed a quickfire turnaround just before half-time as Kamada finished off a fine team move and Jefferson Lerma headed home a corner from close range.

Pino’s composed finish early in the second-half leant the Eagles a degree of comfort in the closing stages of an enthralling contest – and earned his team three valuable points as they moved up to 12th in the Premier League table.

Summary:

- One change for Palace with Lerma replacing the injured Tomiyasu.

• 3 – Goal: Ndoye races clear down the left for Forest and places a finish beyond Benítez.
• 8: Strand Larsen looks to hit back, but is denied twice in quick succession.
• 21: Benítez makes a fantastic save to prevent Ndoye heading in a second.
• 28: Muñoz volleys wide for Forest as the visitors enjoy a dominant spell.
• 35: Benítez makes Save of the Season contender from Delap after Gibbs-White hits the bar.
• 41 – GOAL: Kamada finishes off a fine team move involving Timber and Strand Larsen.
• 45+3: Mitchell’s dipping volley from distance is turned over the bar.
• 45+4 – GOAL: Lerma rises highest from a corner and nods goalwards, the ball trickling over the line for Palace.
• 45+6: Ndoye misses another gilt-edged Forest chance in a madcap end to the half.
• HT: Palace 2-1 Forest
• 49: Forest hit the post following a deflection off Canvot.
• 52: Gibbs-White places wide from close range as the visitors start the half on top.
• 59 – GOAL: Pino and Palace hit Forest on the break to make it three!
• 70: Palace probe for a fourth having ridden out the storm.
• 80: Benítez makes another fantastic save to keep out Wood's header.
• 86: Canvot makes an important clearing header as the Eagles stand firm.
• 90+2: Richards goes close to heading in a fourth for Palace.
• FT: Palace 3-1 Forest

A fixture much in the media spotlight this week – not least as the first time Oliver Glaser and Daniel Muñoz both returned to Crystal Palace as opposition representatives – did not disappoint for entertainment.

Following the three-week international break, Pierre Sage made one change for Palace, reverting to the team which finished the first run of games with a well-earned clean sheet and point at Elland Road: Jefferson Lerma replaced the injured Takehiro Tomiyasu in the starting XI.

For all the build-up, the early action did not disappoint. Within seconds of the game kicking off, Kamada came close to finding Jørgen Strand Larsen six yards from goal – the tone for an attacking half was set.

But it was Forest who took the lead inside three minutes. Dan Ndoye seized on Anan Khalaili’s loose headed pass, raced towards goal, and produced a clinical finish beyond the sprawling Walter Benítez.

The half continued in similar vein – chance after chance after chance.

Palace went close twice in quick succession five minutes later, Strand Larsen connecting well with Khalaili’s skimmed cross – but being denied by Matz Sels. As the rebound popped up, only a last-ditch challenge kept out the Norwegian’s rebound.

Quinten Timber – ever-present as always – was next to go close for the hosts as Palace’s sharp passing carved out a number of presentable opportunities.

But as the game entered its second quarter, Forest took control, and it was only thanks to the brilliance of Benítez that the Eagles stayed in it.

The Argentina international was first sprightly to a far-post Ndoye header, before Muñoz – found in space by Morgan Gibbs-White – half-volleyed a presentable chance wide.

Then, Benítez made a Save of the Season contender: after Gibbs-White’s looping effort from 30 yards crashed down off the underside of the bar, the ‘keeper somehow recovered to spring back up to his feet and take – with remarkable agility – the full power of Liam Delap’s smashed finish six yards out on his chest.

It was the kind of save which had Selhurst Park springing to its feet in recognition – and proved a turning point in the contest.

The spark, once again, came from Kamada. The Japan international kick-started a lovely one-touch passing move, involving flicks from the likes of Adam Wharton, Timber and Strand Larsen, and followed the ball into the box.

As Strand Larsen squared for Timber, it squirmed through to Kamada – and he duly lifted the ball delicately over the advancing Sels to give Palace parity.

That was the impetus the Eagles needed, and moments after Tyrick Mitchell’s looping half-volley was tipped over by Sels, Palace took the lead.

A floated corner from the right from Wharton saw Lerma escape Gibbs-White before squeezing a header between Sels' legs on the line, wheeling away in jubilation in front of an ecstatic Holmesdale.

Even then, Forest had a huge chance to level in the sixth minute of added time – but this time Ndoye’s composure evaded him after a deflection took the ball through to him at the far post.

In truth, Forest had enjoyed the much better chances in the first-half – not that anyone of a Palace persuasion cared too much as the half-time whistle sounded.

And the visitors were admittedly on top in the early stages of an end-to-end second-half, with another Gibbs-White header across goal taking a nick off Jaydee Canvot – the combination of Benítez and the woodwork keeping the ball out.

Gibbs-White was next to go close minutes later, but placed an effort wide when he should have done better from Neco Williams’ cross.

But as had been the case in the first-half, Palace were simply the more ruthless in front of goal on the day.

And the Eagles soared into a two-goal lead just before the hour mark when Timber – heavily involved again – had his through ball towards Pino cut out, only for it to reach Strand Larsen in front of goal.

Sels smothered the initial effort, only to see it pop out towards Pino who steadied himself before steering the rebound beyond the defender covering on the line.

That goal was enough to stem much of Forest’s attacking momentum, and paved way for a spell where the Eagles looked much likelier – although there was still another fine save from the inspired Benítez to come to keep out Wood's close-range header.

But for their greater ruthlessness and game management, Selhurst Park was able to enjoy a more comfortable closing quarter of the game.

A first home Premier League win of the season, and first-ever against Forest in the competition, would prove the perfect start to a week in which they will also face Olympique Lyonnais and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Palace: Benítez (GK), Lerma (Ahanor, 72), Richards, Canvot, Khalaili, Timber, Wharton, Mitchell, Pino (Sarr, 83), Kamada (McNeil, 90), Strand Larsen (Nketiah, 83).

Subs: Matthews (GK), Mingueza, Doucouré, Hughes, Guessand.

Forest: Sels (GK), Aina (Kalimuendo, 83), Diomande, Murillo, Muñoz, Schlager (Sangaré, 66), McAtee, Williams, Ndoye (Hudson-Odoi, 72), Gibbs-White, Delap (Wood, 72).

Subs: Victor (GK), Dominguez, Yates, Cunha, Netz.