Likely Line-Up
Expected Nottingham Forest XI (3-4-3): Murray-Jones; Moreira, Modupe, Orr, Hanks, Sinclair; Thompson, Whitehall, McClure, Blake; Wood.
Team news
Caudwell usually selects a settled starting XI, with nine of the above extremely likely to start. Kalum Thompson and Chris Wood are recent additions.
Caudwell reflected on Wood’s return and the B Team’s role in supporting the first team: "It’s great for the club too because Woody [Chris Wood] came back and scored a goal as he returns from injury. That’s what it’s about in terms of making sure we help the first team in getting the boys fit for after the international break."
He also acknowledged the challenges of integrating younger players following loans in January: "We always knew that with some of the boys going out on loan, we would have to bring a lot of under-18s up and use some of the younger players.
We’ve got through that settling period, done some work on the training ground, and it’s resulted in us turning the results around. We’ve got one more game, and we still have an outside chance of getting into the play-offs."
Pre-Match Analysis
Forest have won seven games, drawn two, and lost ten, placing them 17th out of 29 academies. Their recent form is on the up, with wins over Fulham and Newcastle following a run of five straight defeats, including a 6-1 thrashing by Sunderland.
Defensively, Forest are strong and organised, with only the two Manchester clubs conceding fewer goals in PL2. Palace have historically struggled to break down Forest’s compact backline, with a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park and a 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture last season.
Scoring has been more difficult for Forest, netting just 21 goals in 19 matches. At home, they have three wins, one draw, and five losses, though this Friday’s match will be at the Nigel Doughty Academy, not their usual home venue of Loughborough University.