Nottingham Forest have made a rock-solid start to the Premier League season with a ten-point haul to show from their opening seven games.
That contrasts markedly with Crystal Palace, a winning machine at the back end of last season but yet to claim their first victory in a frustrating start to their 2024/25 campaign.
It's an intriguing contest to round off Matchday Eight on Monday night with kick-off at the City Ground at 8pm.
- DRAW
- EDDIE NKETIAH 1+ SHOTS ON TARGET
- OVER 4.5 PALACE CORNERS
Ignore Table And Look At The History
Two sides who have made very different starts to the 2024/25 season meet at the City Ground, where it may be wise to ignore the Premier League table.
The bare facts of that tell us that Nottingham Forest have lost only once and have ten points to their name, seven more than Monday night’s opponents Crystal Palace who are in the bottom three and have yet to register a win this term.
But these are also two of the lowest-scoring sides in the top flight - Forest have bagged seven and Palace just five - and they have been involved in seven draws between them.
Indeed, last season's two meetings ended in a goalless draw at Selhurst Park followed by a 1-1 draw in Nottingham, a fifth stalemate in their last six league encounters.
Forest's two wins this term have been narrow 1-0 affairs while Palace's last two matches, defeats away to Everton and at home to Liverpool, were both by the odd goal.
Palace have lost the swagger that saw them end the 2023/24 campaign like a train, but they are competitive and can match a Forest side who are set to be without a few key players.
And in a game of potentially few goals, the draw looks a lively proposition.
DRAW
Steady Eddie Can Set Sights On Forest Goal
Palace may have gone into this round of games in 18th place in the table, but in terms of shots-per-game they find themselves in 10th.
A lack of accuracy when it matters is costing them dear, as illustrated by new signing Eddie Nketiah, who looks a major and lively threat but has yet to find the net in four starts.
But the former Arsenal ace, who has scored in an EFL Cup win at QPR, is averaging 2.8 shots per game with three on target in four appearances.
Palace on the break are a threat to any defence and Nketiah is more than capable of getting at least one effort on target.
EDDIE NKETIAH 1+ SHOTS ON TARGET
Palace Can Pile Up Corner Count
Helped by the pace Palace have on the counter, the Eagles win their share of corners - and earn more on the road than they do at home.
In three away trips this season Oliver Glasner's side have chalked up 19 corners at an average of 6.3 per match.
Forest, meanwhile, are conceding 6.5 corners per game which all points to the idea that Palace can win at least five flag-kicks at the City Ground on Monday night.
OVER 4.5 PALACE CORNERS
