New signings and old glories: everything you need to know about Forest

Match previews

6 Aug 2023

Crystal Palace are back in Premier League action on Saturday, 7th October (17:30 BST) at Selhurst Park – and before kick-off it’s time to get the lowdown on our latest opponents…

Factfile

Manager: Steve Cooper
Last season: 16th
Nickname: The Reds
Ground: City Ground
Founded: 1865 (158 years ago)

What’s the story?

After securing their Premier League survival last season when at one point the odds seemed stacked against them, Forest are looking to consolidate their top-flight status under Steve Cooper this time around.

Those running the club were given great credit when they stuck with the manager during a tricky spell over the last campaign, and the hugely popular Welshman can now call this Forest squad his own.

After making 29 new signings in 2022, they have added 13 more players in 2023 as their overhaul of the squad continues, with former Manchester United and Chelsea wingers Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi among the most eye-catching additions, as well as Ibrahim Sangaré’s arrival from Champions League side PSV Eindhoven.

Anthony Elanga celebrates with Morgan Gibbs-White after scoring the winner at Stamford Bridge

But the star of the show so far has been Taiwo Awoniyi, who became the first Nottingham Forest player to score in seven consecutive Premier League games with his goal against Man Utd, breaking Stan Collymore’s record which had stood for almost three decades.

A victory at Stamford Bridge is the highlight of their campaign so far, and impressive performances away at Arsenal, Man Utd and Manchester City have demonstrated Forest’s ability to challenge the very best sides in the league.

Now, with their new signings beginning to settle into the side, Steve Cooper’s men must show that they can perform on a consistent basis to avoid being sucked into a relegation battle, and instead make a play for the midtable positions.

Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates putting Forest ahead at Old Trafford

The boss

Son of a referee and tough-tackling defender in Welsh football, Cooper’s reputation has only grown since he guided England’s Under-17s to World Cup glory – with Marc Guéhi among the fulcrums of the side. He joined Forest from Swansea City and kept them up last season against the odds.

Record against Palace

Palace found it tough last season, in their first meetings with Forest in almost a decade. The Eagles narrowly lost at the City Ground after Wilfried Zaha’s missed penalty just before the World Cup break, before a 1-1 draw on the final day thanks to Will Hughes’ near-post header.

Will Hughes heads home against Forest in May

Did you know?

Originally shinty players – a team game played with sticks in the Scottish Highlands much like hockey or hurling – Forest’s founders met at the Clinton Arms in 1865 for the small matter of post-match pints and setting up one England’s biggest clubs. They offered assistance to Liverpool, Arsenal, Brighton and Everton among others. Somehow, though, they were rejected in their bid to join the inaugural Football League in 1888 and later entered in 1892.

The founders identified with Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Italian revolutionary hero who led the redshirts and played a crucial role in the unification of Italy, and so ordered kits in ‘Garibaldi Red’. Forest later donated a set of kits to Woolwich Arsenal in 1886, influencing their decision to wear red.

Brian Clough after retaining the European Cup in 1980

“I’m not the best manager in the country, but I’m in the top one.” Can anyone compare to Brian Clough? He was nicknamed Old Big ‘Ead for his incredible confidence – but he backed it up with results. Clough took charge of almost 1,000 games with Forest between 1975 and 1993, and left a legacy unrivalled in the club’s history, winning back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980.

Glenn Murray’s final professional appearance came for Forest in 2021, scoring twice in 16 appearances with the club. He notched 47 in the red and blue of Palace, including 30 to fire the Eagles to promotion in 2013.

Match details

Saturday, 7th October
17:30 BST
Selhurst Park
Sky Sports

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