Peter Lansley at the City Ground, Mon 21 Oct 2024
After a challenging match that saw Nottingham Forest secure a narrow victory over Crystal Palace, manager Oliver Glasner was quick to defend goalkeeper Dean Henderson after a costly mistake in the second half. Henderson allowed a strike from Chris Wood to slip through his fingers, a blunder that highlights Palace’s struggles this season.
The match was tightly contested when Wood attempted a shot from 20 yards, following a weak headed clearance from Trevoh Chalobah. Unfortunately for Henderson, he was slow to react and allowed the ball to get past him, just days after regaining his spot in England’s starting lineup for their Nations League win against Finland.
“Dean tried to apologize, but I didn’t let him,” Glasner stated. “There’s no need to place blame. He has made countless crucial saves for us this season, as well as last. Mistakes happen in sports; we’re all human. What’s important is how we respond.”
Looking ahead to their upcoming game against Tottenham, Glasner emphasized the necessity of Henderson’s presence in goal. “I don’t expect an easy match. Tottenham is a strong attacking side, and we know the challenges we’ll face. We’ll need Dean, and I’m confident he’ll rise to the occasion.”
As for Chris Wood, his performance was noteworthy, scoring his fifth goal of the season. He now ranks alongside Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer in the goal-scoring charts since Nuno Espírito Santo took charge at Nottingham Forest just before last Christmas. With this latest goal, Wood has reached a milestone of 20 Premier League goals for the club, joining the ranks of Bryan Roy and Stan Collymore.
Nuno, who was absent from the touchline due to a three-game suspension, expressed his delight in Wood’s contributions. “We’re thrilled with him, not just for the goals but for how he influences the team and the younger players,” he said. “His experience has a huge impact in the locker room.”
Despite the victory, Palace continues to struggle, remaining in the relegation zone after what has been one of their worst starts in Premier League history. Wood had already missed several opportunities before finally finding the net and even revealed his excitement about becoming a father again, celebrating with the classic thumb-in-mouth gesture.
Forest fans, emboldened by the team’s spirited performance, felt a sense of injustice as key figures, including captain Morgan Gibbs-White and James Ward-Prowse, were sidelined, alongside owner Evangelos Marinakis, serving a five-match stadium ban. Their support fueled the team’s dynamic play, with Forest dominating possession.
However, Palace came close to scoring when Eberichi Eze, in a creative role just behind Eddie Nketiah, took advantage of a gap in Forest’s defense and narrowly missed the target with a curling shot. In retaliation, Nketiah swerved his attempt against the post, showcasing the intensity of the match on both ends.
As the game progressed, it became a battle of defensive resilience, featuring strong saves from both sides, until Wood’s decisive moment shifted the outcome. With another match against Leicester looming this Friday, Forest is eyeing a potential leap into the top five of the standings, a promising prospect indeed.
