Nottm Forest v Palace

The City Ground, Saturday 3.00pm

Joel Ward

Team news

Crystal Palace right-back Joel Ward out for up to six weeks with a torn groin muscle. Danny Gabbidon will remain at centre half in place of the suspended Damien Delaney. Forward Aaron Wilbraham (rib) is doubtful.

Nottingham Forest's new manager Alex McLeish has on-loan defender Daniel Ayala back from suspension. However, on-loan Chelsea defender Sam Hutchinson (knee) and midfielder Jermaine Jenas (calf) are both not available.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"We had our Christmas party at Crystal Palace during the week before Christmas – and I am happy to report that my directors didn’t ask me to copy Blackburn boss Henning Berg by dressing up to do a song and dance routine.

"X-Factor’s Amelia Lily was the star of the show and the evening was a huge success as far as building team spirit and togetherness was concerned.

"If we are going to be successful this season, we will need everyone at Selhurst Park pulling in the right direction and not just the players. We need the directors, the kit man, the programme sellers and the tea lady all in it together.

"I am delighted to say I have inherited some talented individuals from Dougie Freedman. There’s been a lot of talk about Wilfried Zaha’s future and Glen Murray is now attracting attention by scoring 20 goals before Christmas.

"But if we are going to achieve anything this season, it will be as a team. And I have been at Palace long enough to know that’s where the strength of our football club really lies."

Alex McLeish

"The fact a club of Forest's magnitude has offered me a job excites me greatly. I've had time away from the game and now feel refreshed and ready to go.

"I can't wait to get started and I'm looking forward to meeting the players, talking to them and taking my first training session."

Nottm Forest - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
8th	24	9	9	6	36

Full league table

Nottm Forest - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
8	4	1	3	11	10

Full form table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
18/09/2012	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 1	Nottm Forest
31/03/2012	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 3	Nottm Forest
10/12/2011	League	Nottm Forest	0 - 1	Crystal Palace
07/05/2011	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 3	Nottm Forest
18/12/2010	League	Nottm Forest	3 - 0	Crystal Palace

All time results

Last meeting

Palace 1-1 Nottm Forest

Tuesday September 18 2012

Palace: Speroni, Ward, Moxey (Moritz, 84), Delaney, Ramage, Dikgacoi (Parr, 67), Garvan, Jedinak, Williams (Bolasie, 56), Zaha, Murray

Subs not used: Price, Martin, Goodwillie, Wilbraham

Goals: Dikgacoi (50)

Bookings: Murray

Nottm Forest: Camp, Hutchinson, Harding, Collins, Halford, Ayala, Gillett, McGugan, Reid, Cox, Sharp

Subs not used: Darlow, Moloney, Moussi, Coppinger

Goals: Blackstock (81)

Bookings: Halford, Blackstock, Guédioura

Sent off: Guédioura (s/o 63)