Forest secured their first home win of the Premier League campaign as they defeated Crystal Palace under the lights at The City Ground.
Forest went into the game looking to build on an impressive showing in West London against Chelsea, and it was the Eagles they took on under an atmospheric and floodlit City Ground.
The opening 10 minutes were tightly contested as both teams attempted to gain a foothold early on. The Reds ever present pace on the counter attack resulting in an early booking for Palace midfielder Lerma after he dragged down Ola Aina on the wing.
Forest won a corner on the quarter hour mark after Elliot Anderson weaved through a series of Palace challenges before forcing Dean Henderson to smother behind. The resulting delivery met the head of Forest marksman Wood whose effort at the back post was cleared off the line by Marc Guehi.
The Forest pressure resumed though as Anderson’s delivery over the top of the Eagles defence could only be headed over the bar by Wood. The sold-out City Ground making their appreciation known for the early dominance.
Palace, who for now were relying on winning the ball on the turnover, nearly scored from distance by doing so. Yates dispossessed in the midfield and Nketiah drilling an effort from 30 yards that skimmed the upright on its way into the support of the Trend End.
It was fine margins that again denied Forest a goal to take the lead as a corner was recycled and resulted in a Ryan Yates header hitting the inside of the post and bouncing out.
The remainder of the half played out with neither team creating any clear-cut chances despite the eventual opening 25 minutes, until on the stroke of half time an excellent delivery from Elliot Anderson met the boot of the stretching Chris Wood, his effort grasped thankfully by Dean Henderson in the Crystal Palace goal to send both teams to the dressing rooms with nothing separating them.
HALF TIME: Forest 0-0 Crystal Palace
Forest started the second half as they did the first, the more positive side and putting numerous crosses into the Palace box. Matz Sels continued his heroics that were on display at Stamford Bridge with a fine double save to first deny Eze and then Kamada from close range before the latter was judged to have been offside.
Both teams had advances forward on the counterattack that amounted to little however after Elliot Anderson fouled a charging Nketiah, a Palace free kick that was laid off and hit from range by Eze forced Matz Sels into a fine stop. The Belgium keeper superbly tipping the dipping effort from far out over the bar.
Soon after though it was Forest who took a deserved lead with Chris Wood scoring his fifth league goal of the campaign. The Forest marksman hitting a bouncing shot early from outside the box that Palace keeper Henderson couldn’t keep out. The City Ground now in fine voice as Forest scored a goal their positive play had deserved.
Despite taking the lead Forest pushed for a decisive second as they won a succession of corners and prevented Palace escaping their own half. Both Yates and Murillo's headers were unable to cause Dean Henderson any further issues though as Forest headed in the final 15 minutes holding the slim one-goal lead.
As the game neared its conclusion, substitute Schupp saw his curling effort towards the far post expertly tipped behind by Matz Sels who once again was having a performance to remember. With minutes to go and Forest still holding firm, a Palace break spelt danger and a determined block from Dominguez prevented Eze’s powerful goal bound effort causing any late heartbreak.
Seven minutes were added on by referee Tim Robinson as Forest looked to secure their first three points at home of the new season. The Tricky Trees expertly limited Palace to very little and managed the closing stages professionally through keeping possession smartly and drawing fouls from a frustrated opposition.
The final whistle was met by jubilant Forest cheers as The Reds moved up to eighth in the Premier League table, joint on 13 points with Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in sixth and seventh.
FULL TIME: Forest 1-0 Crystal Palace
Forest (4-2-3-1): Sels; Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Moreno (Morato 78’), Yates (c), Anderson (Williams 78’), Dominguez, Elanga (Jota Silva 63’), Hudson-Odoi (Sosa 84’), Wood (Awoniyi 84’)
Unused Substitutes: Miguel; Boly, Toffolo, Omobamidele
Bookings: Anderson (59’), Domínguez (69’)
Goals: Wood (65’)
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Chalobah, Guehi, Lacroix, Mitchell (Schlupp 74’), Munoz, Lerma, Hughes (Sarr 74’), Kamada (Agbinone 88’), Eze, Nketiah (Mateta 66’)
Unused Substitutes: Turner; Ward, Clyne, Wharton, Kporha
Bookings: Lerma (5’), Kamada (41’), Munoz (90+6’)
Referee: Tim Robinson
Attendance: 29,443