Honestly, if you told a Crystal Palace fan ten years ago that their biggest "grudge match" outside of the Brighton M23 derby would be against Nottingham Forest, they probably would’ve laughed at you. It feels random. It feels like two clubs that should just be shaking hands and moving on. But football in 2026 isn’t just about what happens on the grass.
The Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest fixture has transformed from a sleepy mid-table clash into something much more combustible. It’s a mix of litigious boardroom battles, weirdly specific statistical streaks, and a genuine clash of footballing identities. If you’ve been following the Premier League lately, you know the vibes at Selhurst Park or the City Ground get weirdly tense when these two meet.
The strange "Bogey Team" curse that Palace can't shake
Let’s get the elephant out of the room first. Palace can't beat Forest. Seriously. It’s becoming a bit of a psychological thing for the Eagles.
As of January 2026, the history books are looking pretty grim for the South London side. Palace hasn't managed a Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest in... well, ever. They’ve played 11 times in the modern era of the top flight, and Palace has zero wins. Seven draws, four losses.
You have to go all the way back to a cold December in 2003—when Andy Johnson was the king of Selhurst—to find the last time Palace won at home against the Garibaldi. When you're a fan, those numbers start to itch. It’s not that Forest is a "bigger" club or always has a better squad; they just seem to have the tactical antidote to whatever Palace is brewing.
👉 See also: Calendario de la H: Todo lo que debes saber sobre cuando juega honduras 2025 y el camino al Mundial
Boardroom wars and the UEFA fallout
Why is there so much "disgust"—a word actually used by fans—between these two lately? It’s mostly down to the suit-and-tie side of the game.
The 2025/26 season kicked off with a massive cloud over both clubs thanks to a UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) ruling. Basically, Palace got demoted to the Conference League while Forest got bumped up to the Europa League because of complex multi-club ownership rules involving Palace’s ownership group.
Palace fans felt like they were the ones leading the fight against how Forest operates. The ultras at Selhurst even went so far as to hang banners targeting Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis. It’s a very "modern football" rivalry—it’s about balance sheets and administrative appeals as much as it is about a 50/50 tackle in the middle of the pitch.
Key players and the January 2026 landscape
Right now, the teams are in very different spots in the table. Palace is hovering around 13th, comfortably mid-table but a bit directionless after Eberechi Eze left for Arsenal last summer. They’re still adjusting to life with Ismaila Sarr as the primary spark, and while Adam Wharton is a certified star in midfield, they look thin.
✨ Don't miss: Caitlin Clark GPA Iowa: The Truth About Her Tippie College Grades
Forest, on the other hand, is battling it out in 17th. They've been a bit of a rollercoaster. They have a massive squad, which is usually their strength, but Nuno Espirito Santo’s relationship with the board has been under the microscope.
- Elliot Anderson: The Forest midfielder is the name on everyone’s lips. Rumors are flying about a £100 million move to Manchester United. He’s the engine room of this Forest team.
- Ismaila Sarr: He scored the opener in their 1-1 draw back in August 2025. He’s fast, direct, and exactly what Palace needs to break the "Forest Curse."
- Murillo: The Forest defender has been a thorn in Palace’s side for two seasons now. He even popped up with a crucial equalizer in May 2025.
The tactical battle is usually predictable but effective. Palace tries to control the middle and take a high volume of shots. Forest? They’re the masters of the "sucker punch." They’ll let you have the ball, wait for you to make a mistake, and then use players like Callum Hudson-Odoi to punish you on the counter-attack.
What usually happens when they meet?
If you're betting on this game, history says "draw." The last two meetings ended 1-1. The one before that was a 1-0 Forest win. Before that? Another 1-1.
It’s almost always a low-scoring, cagey affair. Palace fans turn up in full voice, the "Holmesdale Fanatics" make a massive racket, and Forest travels in numbers. The atmosphere is spicy, but the football is often a stalemate.
🔗 Read more: Barry Sanders Shoes Nike: What Most People Get Wrong
"It's a rivalry born of administrative fuckups," one fan famously posted on Reddit, and honestly, he's not wrong. It’s the "Litigation Derby."
Actionable insights for the next match
If you're heading to the next Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest game or just watching from your sofa, keep an eye on these specific things:
- Watch the 55-70 minute window: Forest has a habit of scoring their equalizers or winners just after half-time when Palace’s press starts to fade.
- Monitor the team sheets for Elliot Anderson: If he's missing or distracted by transfer talk, Forest's transition play falls apart.
- Check the referee: Because of the bad blood between the owners, these games have become card magnets. Don't be surprised to see a red if things get heated near the touchline.
- Look at the set pieces: Both teams are statistically "Very Strong" at attacking set pieces but "Weak" at defending long shots. It's a recipe for a weird deflection goal.
The real story here isn't just a football match. It's about two historic clubs trying to find their identity in a league where lawyers and accountants have as much influence as the strikers. Palace wants to prove they aren't just a "feeder" club or a victim of the rules. Forest wants to prove they belong in the European conversation permanently.
Go check the current injury list for Adam Wharton before the next kickoff, as his presence usually dictates whether Palace can actually maintain possession or if they'll just get overrun by Forest's counter-press.