Oliver Glasner believes there are plenty of positives to take from his early Nottingham Forest tenure, but he acknowledged his team are not where they want to be in the table. 

Glasner is preparing to return to Crystal Palace this Sunday for the first time since leaving the Eagles this summer, following a trophy-laden two-year spell at Selhurst Park.

During his time at the club, Glasner won the FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League before deciding to seek a new challenge following the expiration of his contract.

That has taken him to Forest, where he has overseen an indifferent start to the season. They are 13th in the Premier League with five points from their first five league matches.

Forest entered the extended international break on the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Coventry City, and Glasner wants a response from his players on the road.

"There are many positive signals from the stats; we're very consistent in defence, and we've had the third-most shots," Glasner said.

"But we could have done better. We need to improve the quality of the shots, where we are shooting from and the number of big chances we're creating.

"This is the potential we have in these encouraging signals, but it is our responsibility to get the results from this.

"It's a Premier League game we want to win. We've shown very good away form this year, and this is what we want to show again."

Focus locked on Sunday. https://t.co/Demv0mlRM2

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) October 9, 2026

Pierre Sage has also endured a difficult start to life in the Selhurst Park hot seat, with Palace signing off for the international break with a 0-0 draw away to in-form Leeds United.

The Eagles are just one point and two places below Forest in the Premier League, with this the first of three huge straight grudge matches for Palace in all competitions.

Forest replaced Palace in last year's Europa League when the Eagles were expelled due to a breach of multi-club ownership rules involving John Textor, who was an investor in both Palace and Ligue 1 giants Lyon.

Now back in the Europa League, Palace face Lyon after the Forest game, before visiting old rivals Brighton on October 18.

"The two teams are close in the table, close in how they are playing. There is a former manager and player [Daniel Munoz] coming back, which is why [the atmosphere] will be more than normal," Sage said.

"That's why details are important, and the atmosphere is one of those details to deal with in a good way. I hope and expect all the fans will be with us. I know they will be.

"If they can give us 1% more, it will be better for us. But everybody must remind themselves what happened with this manager.

"They won three titles here for the first time for the club. I have big respect for him, as I have for Daniel Munoz, who also left this summer."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Crystal Palace – Anan Khalaili

Khalaili has made 21 tackles in the Premier League this season, more than any other player.

It's the most in a player's first five appearances in the competition since Florentino in October 2025 (21), while the last with more was Joao Palhinha in August 2022 (26).

Nottingham Forest – Morgan Gibbs-White

Gibbs-White has scored (six goals) or assisted (four assists) in each of Forest's last eight Premier League away games.

Only Andy Cole (Aug-Dec 1993), Robin van Persie (Jan-May 2011), and Erling Haaland (Feb-Sep 2023) have ever registered a goal involvement in nine consecutive away appearances in the competition's history.

MGW came on in the 72nd minute to help @England see out their 3-0 victory over Czechia. https://t.co/Mcc3gCWqq6

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) October 6, 2026

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Palace have never won in 12 Premier League meetings with Forest (D8 L4) – both the most the Eagles have faced a side without winning and most the Tricky Trees have played an opponent without losing in the competition.

Forest have also lost just one of their last 17 league matches against Palace (W7 D9), and are unbeaten in 11 (W3 D8) since a 1-0 Championship defeat all the way back in December 2011.

The Tricky Trees have won all four of their away Premier League matches against London clubs in 2026. Only two non-London teams have ever won 5+ successive Premier League games in the capital: Liverpool (Mar 2019-Jan 2020) and Manchester City (3 times, most recently six from Feb-Aug 2024).

Palace, meanwhile, have won just one of their last 12 Premier League games (D4 L7), beating Fulham 3-2 in September. Since the first match in this period (April 20th), they have earned the fewest points of any ever-present Premier League club (seven), despite playing the most games.

Sage's side have also lost both of their Premier League games at Selhurst Park this season. Only in 1997-98, 2004-05, and 2017-18 have they ever lost their opening three home matches of a league campaign.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Crystal Palace – 36.3%

Draw – 28.8%

Nottingham Forest – 34.9%