Crystal Palace loses to Forest after Henderson howler

Dean Henderson’s mistake against Crystal Palace cost Crystal Palace as Chris Wood’s second-half goal lifted Nottingham Forest to ninth in the Premier League on Monday. The Eagles are in the bottom three and without a league win after the England goalkeeper missed Wood’s low attempt from outside the box.

With five goals from eight games, Palace are the lowest scorers in the division despite Eddie Nketiah and Eberechi Eze hitting the woodwork. Forest has a great start to the season and is already in the top half, ahead of Manchester United and Newcastle.

Nuno Espirito Santo began a three-match touchline ban and watched his side’s first home win since April from the stands, while Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis began a five-game stadium ban for his behavior in a 1-0 loss to Fulham last month. The hosts’ Morgan Gibbs-White and James Ward-Prowse were suspended, but they have form Palace lacks in strikers.

Only Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer have scored more Premier League goals than Wood since Nuno took to Forest in December. Henderson helped keep Forest up during his loan at the City Ground in 2022/23, but he had a moment to forget when he failed to stop Wood’s goal 25 minutes from time.

“I haven’t scored many outside the box. I keep them in the box for convenience “explained Wood.

“Just aim and anything can happen. It dripped under Dean’s hand. However, you must take the shot, and happily it went in.”

Both goalkeepers had different luck. Matz Sels saved Eze’s piledriver seconds before the goal and tipped over Jeffrey Schlupp’s soaring attempt.

First-half long-range shot by Nketiah missed the post as he continues his Premier League goal drought after joining from Arsenal for £30 million ($39 million). With Ipswich, Southampton, and Wolves also winless, Palace are one point from safety after eight games.

“We’re creating chances but any slight mistake gets punished at the moment,” said Palace captain Marc Guehi.

“When the world’s against you, you have to keep fighting.”