Oliver Glasner’s return to Selhurst Park proved to be an unhappy affair, as his Nottingham Forest side succumbed to a 3-1 defeat against Crystal Palace. Despite receiving a warm personal welcome from the home faithful before kick-off, the atmosphere quickly soured. Palace supporters immediately revived the chants aimed at Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis—who was absent from the stadium—and Uefa, which had defined their Conference League campaign under Glasner’s previous tenure.
Forest enjoyed a dream start when Dan Ndoye scored in the third minute after capitalizing on a weak header by Anan Khalaili. Pierre Sage’s side struggled to cope with early pressure, yet Forest failed to build on their lead. The match turned following a spectacular double save by Argentina goalkeeper Walter Benítez, who denied Liam Delap from close range. This shift in momentum allowed Palace to regain composure and challenge a vulnerable-looking Forest defense.
The equalizer arrived just before the interval through Daichi Kamada, who scored his first Premier League goal in his 68th appearance. It was a poignant moment, as Kamada had previously thrived under Glasner at Eintracht Frankfurt before following him to London on a free transfer. Jefferson Lerma then turned the tide completely, bundling in a second goal from a corner kick to give Palace the lead going into the break. The home side’s dominance from set-pieces remained a significant issue for Glasner’s team throughout the afternoon.
The second half saw Palace solidify their grip on the match as Yéremy Pino added a third goal. The strike prompted mocking chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” from the Palace stands, directed squarely at their former manager. Although Forest attempted to rally with late efforts from Ndoye and Neco Williams, the visitors were unable to break through again. The result marked Pierre Sage’s first home win in the league since taking charge this summer, leaving Forest to reflect on a collapse that leaves serious questions for the club’s leadership.
The match occurred against a backdrop of ongoing friction between the clubs, highlighted by legal tensions involving Marinakis, who is currently suing Palace and “persons unknown” over a controversial banner displayed during a previous meeting. While the supporter group linked to that incident has since disbanded, the lingering bad blood remained palpable. For Glasner, who arrived in a sharp black bomber jacket, the afternoon served as a harsh reminder of his new reality, as Palace effectively dismantled his side to secure a vital victory.
