Alious
Nottingham Forest continued their impressive defensive form with another clean sheet in their 1-0 triumph over Crystal Palace, marking significant progress in their defensive capabilities. The victory, secured through Chris Wood’s fifth goal of the season, propelled Forest to eighth position in the Premier League standings.
While the old football adage suggests that “goals win matches but defences win prizes,” Forest’s commitment to strengthening their defensive unit during the summer transfer window is now bearing fruit. The acquisition of Serbian captain Nikola Milenkovic has proved particularly significant, earning praise from prominent pundit Jamie Carragher during the match coverage.
The team’s overall performance featured several standout displays, with Alan Smith highlighting Elliot Anderson’s contribution and Nicolas Dominguez delivering a characteristically industrious performance. However, it was goalkeeper Matz Sels who emerged as a crucial figure in securing the victory for Forest.
The goalkeeping position has been a point of discussion at Forest since their return to the Premier League, with the club struggling to find a consistent first-choice keeper. Sels, however, appears to be cementing his position as the undisputed number one, following a string of impressive performances. His excellence was particularly evident in the recent match against Chelsea before the international break, where he made seven saves in a display that impressed former England goalkeeper Joe Hart.
The Crystal Palace match saw Sels maintain this high standard, recording another seven saves according to Who Scored statistics. A particular highlight was his remarkable save from Eberechi Eze’s effort, demonstrating exceptional reflexes to tip a swerving shot onto the crossbar. His passionate approach throughout the match validated manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s decision to install him as the primary goalkeeper.
This resurgence in form is particularly noteworthy following criticism from pundit Shay Given last month, who questioned Sels’ judgment in conceding a free-kick goal to Danny Welbeck during the Brighton match. However, Sels has responded impressively to that setback, effectively silencing any calls for backup goalkeeper Carlos Miguel to be given an opportunity.
The stability Sels brings to the goalkeeping position represents a significant development for Forest, who had previously struggled to establish a consistent presence between the posts since their Premier League return. The club’s decision to forego the signing of Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher during the summer transfer window now appears justified, given Sels’ current form.
His commanding performance against Crystal Palace demonstrated a goalkeeper playing with increasing confidence, and the clean sheet will only serve to further boost his morale. The consistency and quality of Sels’ recent displays suggest that Forest have finally resolved their goalkeeping situation, providing a solid foundation for their continued Premier League campaign.
This period of stability in goal, combined with improved defensive organization, marks a significant evolution in Forest’s Premier League status, suggesting they have successfully addressed what was previously considered a problematic position within the team.
Alious
