James Buttler looks ahead to Monday evening's Premier League match between Forest and Palace and finds the very best bets.
I’m starting this preview with my very first tip. It’s also to buy you time to answer a quiz question.
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Chris Wood scored in both New Zealand’s matches in the break to take his recent tally to four goals in five matches in all competitions. Be warned, the Forest striker has done a lot of travelling and therefore may start from the bench, but if he does feature the 5/2 price on the Kiwi to score anytime has a lot of appeal.
If Wood does notch, he’ll take his tally against Palace to five and become only the third player in Nottingham Forest history to score 20-plus Premier League goals. And there’s your quiz question – which two Forest players have already scored 20-plus Premier League goals? The answer after you’ve heard the rest of this preview.
Forest will be delighted to be in 10th after the stresses and strains of a relegation fight last season, but it’s early days to rest too easy. Both wins came away from home against Southampton and incredibly Liverpool, they’ve had four draws and lost just the once, in their last home game, 1-0 to Fulham.
Manager Nuno Espírito Santo will be very aware that his side are winless in three matches and maybe the international break came at the right time to give Forest a chance to regroup.
Forest welcome a Palace side which they’ve drawn five of their last six games against. Forest did win the one in that run that did provide a positive result, 1-0 at home two seasons ago.
Form in home games is a headache with no win in seven matches at the City Ground in all competitions. They’ve drawn three and lost the other four. It’s 12 years since they went eight home matches without a win.
Palace have lost all momentum
Crystal Palace were one of the form teams at the end of last season as Oliver Glasner took charge and made an instant impact with six wins in their last seven matches. That momentum has disappeared entirely with no league wins yet this season. Three draws and four defeats see Palace down in 18th. The Austrian boss needs to find those winning ways again quickly.
Palace have won only two of their last 16 EPL road trips and its impossible for me to suggest you back them on Monday evening. They also haven’t beaten Forest since 1991. Forest to win at 8/5 is pretty tasty in my book.
Palace may not have been winning away from home but they have scored in their last six away matches, going back into last season. I’m already thinking Forest win, so they are going to have to score to do that, meaning Both Teams To Score at 10/11 looks a play.
James’ Premier League Tips
Chris Wood to score at 5/2
Forest to win at 8/5
Both Teams To Score at 10/11
Over 2.5 match goals at 23/20
If you put all of those picks into a BetBuilder you can get 9/1 with MGM Bets.
And, the answer to the earlier question – Stan Collymore scored 22 Premier League goals for Forest, and Bryan Roy is top of the pile with 24. Chris Wood on 19 isn’t far behind. Sorry, no prizes, even if you got both answers right.
However you bet, please always gamble responsibly.