NOBODY EXPECTED OLIVER GLASNER TO GO THIS FAR AFTER THE MATCH — HIS VERDICT ON TWO NOTTINGHAM FOREST STARS IS NOW GOING VIRAL.
Oliver Glasner’s emotional return to Crystal Palace ended in disappointment as Nottingham Forest suffered a 3–1 defeat at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
The match carried an unusual amount of attention before kick-off, with Glasner returning to the club where he had enjoyed a remarkable spell and delivered historic success. This time, however, he arrived in the opposing dugout as Nottingham Forest manager.
Forest made the stronger start and took an early lead through Dan Ndoye, giving Glasner’s side hope of completing a memorable away victory.
But Palace responded strongly.
Daichi Kamada brought the hosts level before Jefferson Lerma put Crystal Palace ahead before half-time. Yeremy Pino then added another goal after the break to complete a 3–1 comeback victory for the Eagles.
For Forest, the defeat was particularly frustrating because they had opportunities to take control of the contest. Liam Delap was at the centre of one of the biggest talking points of the match after missing a huge opportunity from close range when Forest were still in a strong position. Morgan Gibbs-White had also struck the crossbar before the chance fell to Delap.
Glasner’s difficult return
The occasion was always going to be emotional for Glasner.
The Austrian manager had previously guided Palace to unprecedented success, including the FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League. His decision to leave Palace and subsequently take charge of Forest made his first return to Selhurst Park one of the most anticipated managerial reunions of the season.
Before the match, Glasner admitted that he had mixed emotions about returning to the stadium, describing the situation as having “two hearts” inside him because of his strong connection with Palace.
But once the whistle went, sentiment had to be put aside.
Forest needed a result after a difficult start to the Premier League campaign, and Glasner had previously stressed that his team had shown encouraging statistical signs but needed to turn those performances into points.
Instead, Palace exposed some of Forest’s weaknesses and completed a comeback.
The two Forest stars under the spotlight
Liam Delap and Murillo became two of the biggest talking points after the match.
Delap, Forest’s major attacking investment, had an opportunity to change the game when the score was still close. His failure to convert from just a few yards out became one of the most discussed moments of the afternoon.
Murillo, meanwhile, endured a difficult afternoon defensively. His performance was heavily criticised in post-match player ratings as Palace repeatedly found ways through the Forest defence.
The performances of the pair therefore created a difficult question for Glasner: how does he get his expensive new striker firing while simultaneously tightening a defence that conceded three goals?
Forest’s bigger problem
The result highlighted a problem Glasner has already spoken about.
Forest have shown encouraging performances away from home this season, including victory at Aston Villa and a draw at Liverpool. Before the Palace game, Glasner pointed to the difference between Forest’s away performances and their struggles in matches where opponents sit deeper and play more directly.
Against Palace, however, Forest could not turn their promising moments into enough goals.
The defeat leaves Glasner with plenty to address, particularly in the final third and defensively.
For Palace, meanwhile, the victory was significant not only because of the three points but because it came against their former manager, who had previously delivered some of the greatest moments in the club’s history.
What happens next for Glasner?
The defeat will not define Glasner’s Nottingham Forest project, but it will certainly increase the pressure surrounding his start at the City Ground.
The manager has repeatedly insisted that building a successful team will take time. Before joining Forest, he warned owner Evangelos Marinakis that there would be no instant transformation and that progress would require patience.
Now the challenge is to make sure Sunday’s defeat becomes a lesson rather than the beginning of another difficult run.
Forest return to Premier League action against Arsenal on October 18, giving Glasner and his players an immediate opportunity to respond.
The Palace defeat may have ended with Forest disappointed, but the biggest question now is whether Glasner can turn the difficult moments into the foundation for the team he believes Nottingham Forest can become.
