Crystal Palace’s dismal start to the Premier League season shows no signs of abating as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest at The City Ground on Thursday. The loss, which came courtesy of a Chris Wood strike that slipped through the hands of Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, leaves the Eagles winless and languishing in 18th place with just three points from their opening eight matches.
The mounting pressure on manager Oliver Glasner is palpable, with the Austrian tactician struggling to replicate the form that saw Palace secure six victories in their final seven matches last term. However, England defender Marc Guehi has called for unity among his teammates as they look to turn their fortunes around.
I can’t fault anyone really,” Guehi told Premier League Productions after the defeat. Everyone put effort into that game. At the moment nothing’s going for us. We have to go back, keep working and stick together. We’re creating chances but any slight mistake gets punished at the moment.”
The 23-year-old center-back, who has established himself as a key figure in the Palace defense since his £18 million move from Chelsea in 2021, emphasized the need for the team to keep fighting in the face of adversity. “When the world’s against you you have to keep fighting. We’re all at fault. It’s not one person for that goal. Life’s hard and you have to deal with it. You have to keep fighting to get better.”
Guehi’s call for unity comes at a crucial juncture for Palace, who face a daunting task in their next fixture against Tottenham at Selhurst Park on Sunday. The Eagles will be desperate to secure their first win of the season and alleviate some of the pressure on Glasner, who has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks.
The Austrian manager, who took over from Patrick Vieira in the summer, believes his players fought until the final whistle against Forest but were not clinical enough in front of goal. We are all frustrated and disappointed and as always one or two situations decided the game,” Glasner told Sky Sports.
“At the moment it goes against us, but this is the time we have to get through it together. I saw the team fighting from the first to the last second, we created chances, and hit the post twice. At the moment we don’t score goals and we have to be honest. No goal today, no goal v Liverpool, no goal v United, and if you play like this it is difficult to win.
Glasner’s assessment of Palace’s goalscoring woes is borne out by the statistics, with the Eagles having failed to find the net in their last three matches against Liverpool, Manchester United, and now Nottingham Forest. The lack of firepower up front has been a major concern for Palace fans, who have seen their side struggle to create clear-cut chances despite the talents of Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi Eze, and Michael Olise.
The defeat against Forest means Palace have equalled their worst start to a season in the top flight, matching the record set during the 1992-93 campaign. It is a far cry from the optimism that surrounded the club at the end of last season, when a run of six wins in seven matches propelled them to a respectable 12th-place finish.
Will Hughes, who was one of the unlikely heroes of Palace’s superb end to last season, admits the Eagles have not been good enough this term. “As players we have to take responsibility,” Hughes told Sky Sports. “Over the last eight games, we haven’t been good enough. There’s pressure every game, but we know what we have to do to get out of this situation. You look at the squad, the ability we have, it’s just not clicking at the moment. We’ve got to stick together now.”
Hughes’ words echo those of Guehi, with both players recognizing the need for the team to take collective responsibility for their poor start to the season. The squad certainly has the talent to turn things around, with the likes of Joachim Andersen, Cheick Doucouré, and Jeffrey Schlupp all proven performers at the highest level.
However, time is running out for Glasner to find a solution to Palace’s woes, with the specter of relegation already looming large over Selhurst Park. The Austrian manager will be acutely aware that he needs to start picking up points quickly if he is to avoid becoming the latest casualty of the Premier League’s managerial merry-go-round.
For now, though, the focus must be on Sunday’s clash with Tottenham, which represents a daunting challenge but also an opportunity for Palace to kick-start their season. If Guehi and his teammates can heed their own call for unity and fight for each other on the pitch, they may yet be able to turn the tide and drag themselves out of the relegation mire.
But make no mistake, the pressure is well and truly on for Glasner and his players. Another defeat against Spurs could spell disaster for the Eagles, and leave them facing an uphill battle to preserve their Premier League status. It is a scenario that Palace fans will be desperate to avoid, but one that is looking increasingly likely with each passing week.
