Palace v Nottm Forest

Selhurst Park, Thursday 7.45pm

Crystal Palace

Team news

Nottingham Forest manager Paul Hart has demanded that the players get their act together ahead of Thursday night’s game against Palace, after their last visit to Selhurst Park just 4 days ago, saw Forest lose 1-0 to Wimbledon.

Hart called Sunday’s performance against the Wombles “the worst of the season” and will be looking to improve dramatically against Palace.

Captain Riccardo Scimeca came through the game against Wimbledon injury free and so will again play in central defence, meaning team mate Tony Vaughan will only feature on the bench.

Striker Jack Lester has overcome a groin problem and is fit again, however he is unlikely to make the starting line up with Johnson and John being Hart’s first choice partnership up front.

New Palace boss Trevor Francis has admitted to experimenting with different players in past games however his mind will be firmly set on securing a much needed three points ahead of the boxing day clash at Millwall.

Meanwhile there has been a new arrival at Palace. Francis’ second signing, after Kit Symons last week, is youngster Cedric Carasso. The French goalkeeper is on a six-month loan to Palace from Marseille and is likely to take his place on the bench against Forest.

Alex Kolinko will again play in goal after his brilliant performance on the weekend, and with Matt Clarke still out injured it will be interesting to see if Latvia’s number one will be dropped once Clarke is back fully fit.

Left wingback Julian Gray will be back in the starting XI after missing out on the trip to Watford last weekend due to suspension. This should mean a return to the 5-3-2 formation which took Palace to the top of the league a short while ago, after Francis experimented with his much preferred 4-4-2 style against Watford.

Therefore, Palace should revert to a three man defence with Hayden Mullins and Christian Edwards as markers and Kit Symons as sweeper. Jamie Smith and Julian Gray will play as wingbacks while Simon Rodger and Aki Riihilahti should start in the centre of midfield. David Hopkin and Jovan Kirovski will battle it out as to who plays behind the front two of Clinton Morrison and Dougie Freedman, although the American International is the favourite to start.

Nottm Forest - league stats

Full league table

Nottm Forest - current form

Full form table

Our home record v Nottm Forest

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
25/08/2001	League	Nottm Forest	4 - 2	Crystal Palace
14/01/2001	League	Nottm Forest	0 - 3	Crystal Palace
28/08/2000	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 3	Nottm Forest
19/02/2000	League	Nottm Forest	2 - 0	Crystal Palace
27/11/1999	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 0	Nottm Forest

All time results

One to watch

David Prutton

The versatile young Forest player has been a shining light alongside his fellow ex-youth teamers in the Nottingham side and has already caught the attention of Newcastle, who reportedly planned a £7million bid for him. A good tackler and confident on the ball, he has started many an attack for Forest and is always a handful for opposing teams.

Last meeting

English Division 1

C Palace 2 (0) Black 52 Fan Zhiyi 82 N Forest 3 (3) Johnson 12 Platt 31 Mullins 40 (og) 28-08-2000

C Palace: Taylor, Fan Zhiyi, Ruddock (Austin,31), Mullins, Rodger, Morrison (Carlisle,80), Black, Gray, Forssell (McKenzie,63), Pollock, Harrison Subs not used: Smith, Fullarton,

N Forest: Beasant (sent off 89), Rogers, Prutton, Lester (Roche,89), John (Blake,73),Johnson, Bart-Williams, Vaughan, Louis-Jean, Platt (Jones,77), Doig Subs not used Harewood, Dawson,

Bookings: Black, Harrison, Mullins (C Palace) Johnson, Lester, Luis-Jean, Prutton, Vaughan (N Forest)

Attendance: 18865

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