Crystal Palace secured their first Premier League home win under manager Pierre Sage with a 3-1 comeback victory over Nottingham Forest. The result at Selhurst Park on Sunday ended a frustrating run of five league meetings without a win against Forest, four of which had finished 1-1.
Dan Ndoye gave the visitors a shock lead after just three minutes, capitalising on a weak defensive header. Palace responded before the break, with Daichi Kamada levelling in the 41st minute after a clever pass from Wharton. Jefferson Lerma then put the hosts ahead just before half-time, finishing from close range after a corner. Yéremy Pino sealed the three points in the 59th minute, pouncing on a loose ball in the box.
Sage's side shows resilience
Pierre Sage praised his team's character after they fell behind early. "Walter made a save with a lot of bravery," the manager said. Benítez, deputising for the injured Dean Henderson, made four key stops. The win lifts Crystal Palace to 12th in the Premier League with seven points from their opening six matches.
Forest boss Oliver Glasner, returning to the ground where he previously managed, was left to rue missed chances. "Call it karma or whatever but it was like I didn’t deserve to win at Selhurst Park because the players did everything," Glasner said. His team dominated possession with 57% and fired 24 shots but found Benítez in fine form. Daniel Muñoz came inches from scoring against his former club, while Tyrick Mitchell saw a volley tipped over and later deflected a header onto his own post.
Key contributions across the pitch
Wharton was instrumental in midfield, creating three chances and providing the assist for Kamada's equaliser. Lerma, playing as a makeshift centre-back in the absence of the suspended Axel Disasi, scored a vital goal and was booked in the first half. Referee Peter Bankes showed four yellow cards in total, two to each side. The victory provides a significant boost ahead of a tough away fixture. Palace travel to face rivals Brighton, who are third in the table, on Sunday 18 October. Check the full schedule on our fixtures page.
The result marks a positive step for Sage's project, validating the team's ability to fight back from adversity. It also breaks a specific psychological barrier against a team that had become a bogey side. Crystal Palace's next challenge is a Europa League clash with Lyon on Thursday 15 October before the high-stakes league trip to the Amex Stadium.
The report in full is at The Guardian Football
