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Midfielder Jack Colback made his comeback from a back problem in that tie against Tottenham.
Crystal Palace will assess Odsonne Edouard, who has missed the past two matches because of a thigh injury.
James McArthur remains out with a groin injury and USA international Chris Richards has been ruled out of the World Cup with a hamstring issue.
No-one wants to be bottom of the table going into the World Cup so this is a massive game for Nottingham Forest, especially as they are at home.
Forest were good in the first half against Brentford last week but fell away after the break so it is going to be a nervy City Ground crowd this time.
Still, they will probably take heart from seeing Forest get a last-minute equaliser against the Bees, and then beating Tottenham in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
Having said all that, Crystal Palace are playing really well right now and are so dangerous in attack. They have got a lot of match-winners in their side, while I am not sure Forest create enough.
Head-to-head
- Crystal Palace’s solitary win in the past nine top-flight meetings was by 1-0 at City Ground in February 1991.
- The most recent competitive games between these teams were in the 2012-13 Championship. Both fixtures were drawn.
Nottingham Forest
- In only three of the 30 completed Premier League seasons did the team bottom of the table on Christmas Day go on to avoid relegation. All three of those teams had 10 points – as Forest do now.
- Forest have scored first in six of their seven home league games this season – but have gone on to win only twice.
- Only Leicester have dropped more points from winning positions than the 12 by Nottingham Forest this season.
- Taiwo Awoniyi has scored in all three of his Premier League home starts.
Crystal Palace
- Palace can win three consecutive Premier League fixtures for the first time since a run of four from February to June 2020.
- The Eagles are unbeaten in their past eight league games against promoted sides, winning four of them.
- Palace have earned a league-high 12 points from losing positions.
- Wilfried Zaha has failed to score in any of his six appearances against Forest.
After netting a 96th-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 at home against Brentford in the Premier League last weekend, Nottingham Forest pulled off an impressive EFL Cup upset with a 2-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur in the third round on Wednesday night.
Two goals within the space of seven second-half minutes from Renan Lodi and Jesse Lingard put the Tricky Trees in control, and although Orel Mangala was sent off with 15 minutes left to play, Steve Cooper‘s side held on to progress into the fourth round.
Forest have now extended their unbeaten run at the City Ground to four matches across all competitions and they have one final fixture in front of their supporters this weekend before the six-week World Cup break, with Cooper hoping that his side can climb off the foot of the table with a positive result against Palace.
The Tricky Trees, who are three points behind Bournemouth in 17th place, have suffered defeat in only one of their last nine meetings with Palace and have not lost any of their four previous Premier League encounters against them.
Forest have conceded a total of 30 goals in 14 league games this term, with only Bournemouth (32) having let in more at this stage, but clean sheets on home soil against Liverpool and Spurs in recent weeks will give Cooper’s side confidence heading into Saturday’s contest.
side had put together a decent run of form before their defeat to Newcastle, winning four and drawing one of their previous six games in the Premier League.
Palace’s 2-1 victory away at West Ham United last weekend, which saw Michael Olise net a dramatic 94th-minute winner, helped them to climb up to 10th in the table, level on points with Liverpool in eighth and five points above the bottom three.
Indeed, the three points secured at the London Stadium ended an eight-game winless away run in the top flight, and victory on Saturday against Forest could see the Eagles rise to as high as sixth
Nottingham Forest will be without Mangala due to suspension, while Omar Richards (calf), Harry Toffolo, Moussa Niakhate (both thigh) and Giulian Biancone (knee) are all ruled out with injuries.
Scott McKenna and Cheikhou Kouyate missed the midweek win over Spurs with minor knocks and both players will be assessed ahead of kickoff on Saturday.
Cooper is set to make a number of changes to his starting lineup, but Lingard – who scored and provided an assist against Spurs – will be hoping to keep his place in attack, which could see the Englishman joined by Morgan Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson.
As for Crystal Palace, James McArthur and Chris Richards are both ruled out with respective groin and thigh injuries, while Odsonne Edouard – who has missed the last two games with a thigh problem – is doubtful and will be assessed in training before Saturday’s game.
Vieira is set to revert to a similar starting lineup that beat West Ham last weekend, with a back four of Nathaniel Clyne, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell protecting goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.
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Wilfried Zaha, who scored in last weekend’s win over West Ham, could continue as the central striker if Edouard is not deemed fit to feature, with support provided in attack by Olise and Jordan Ayew.
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Aurier, Worrall, Cook, Lodi; Freuler, O’Brien, Yates; Gibbs-White, Lingard; Johnson
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Schlupp, Doucoure, Eze; Ayew, Zaha, Olise