Stuart Pearce makes Nottingham Forest relegation prediction ahead of Crystal Palace clash
Nottingham Forest have won at Anfield and Southampton and are now seeking a first home victory against Crystal Palace on Monday evening to take them back into the top 10
by Neil McLeman · The MirrorStuart Pearce has claimed Nottingham Forest are already safe from relegation this season and the “incredible” City Ground atmosphere is like back in his glory days.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side host winless Crystal Palace on Monday seeking a first home victory of the season. Forest have suffered a turbulent off-field build-up with a £750,000 fine for a stupid social media post last season followed by owner Evangelos Marinakis getting hit with a stadium ban.
Morgan Gibbs-White will be banned while Santo starts a three-match touchline suspension. But on the pitch, only Liverpool had conceded fewer Premier League goals and Chris Wood has netted four to win 10 points in the first seven games.
Forest have won at Anfield and Southampton and are now seeking a first home victory to take them back into the top 10.
And former captain Pearce, who won four trophies playing for Brian Clough, said: “I don’t think they are in a relegation battle this year and won’t be because sometimes when you get the points on the board early, you play with more freedom. And I think Forest are playing that way.
“To go to Anfield and win was an incredible result. I think to establish yourself in the Premier League and stay on that first season is so important. You get confidence from that. And the fan base has played a brilliant part in that as well.
"For me to go back as an ex-player, to hear the euphoria around the ground has just been incredible. The atmosphere has been as good as I have ever known it and that is going back to the days when trophies were coming our way. The fans have been incredible.”
Forest’s haphazard spending cost them a four-point deduction under PSR rules last season but their transfer policy is now showing rewards.
“I think so many things are right at the moment,” added fan favourite Psycho. “You have got to look at the recruitment. The likes of Gibbs-White, Anthony Elange and Callum Hudson-Odoi have done well. They are great on the counter attack with lots of energy and pace.
“And Chris Wood is scoring goals as well. There is a lot going for them at the moment and I don’t see them having a problem at all this year. In fact I think, whoever they play, they will cause teams problems.”
Santo struggled at Spurs. But apart from his repeated clashes with referees, the former Wolves boss has enjoyed his return to the Midlands after replacing Steve Cooper in December last year. “It is a good fit,” added Pearce. “I think the fans have grown to like him.”
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