Nottingham Forest host Crystal Palace at the City Ground on Sunday in a fixture that carries increasing importance for both sides as the Premier League season moves into its decisive phase.
Neither team arrives in strong form, but the stakes are clear with both clubs looking to pull away from the relegation battle.
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Forest will approach the match with a measure of renewed confidence after an improved run of results.
Sean Dyche’s side are unbeaten in their last three league games and followed that up with an emphatic 4-0 win over Ferencvaros in the Europa League during the week.
That European performance, coupled with last weekend’s 2-0 victory away at Brentford, has lifted the mood around the City Ground.
Forest remain 17th in the table, but they hold a five-point cushion over the bottom three and know that a home win could significantly ease pressure.
Goals have been an issue for much of the campaign, yet recent displays suggest greater attacking cohesion, with Igor Jesus beginning to find consistency.
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However, home form remains a concern, with just one league win at the City Ground in their last five attempts.
Crystal Palace travel north searching for a response after a prolonged downturn.
Their 3-1 defeat at home to Chelsea last weekend extended a winless run that now stands at 11 matches in all competitions.
That sequence has dragged the Eagles down the table and into the conversation they were keen to avoid earlier in the season.
Palace sit three points above Forest and are only a handful of places clear of the relegation zone.
Away from Selhurst Park, results have been particularly damaging, with five consecutive defeats on the road.
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Oliver Glasner’s side have struggled to convert promising periods of play into goals and have lacked control in key moments.
Discipline will also be an issue, with Adam Wharton suspended following his red card against Chelsea.
Despite their difficulties, Palace will view this fixture as a genuine opportunity.
Forest are direct rivals, and a positive result would halt the slide and restore belief.
There is added edge between the clubs following events in the summer and ongoing transfer discussions involving Jean-Philippe Mateta.
That backdrop adds intensity to a contest already defined by pressure rather than form.
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Forest will aim to use recent momentum to assert themselves at home.
Palace will look to draw on motivation and urgency to rediscover their edge.
Neither side can afford a passive approach.
With confidence fragile on both sides, the game is likely to be tense and finely balanced.
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