It was a well-played game with great intensity It has been a season of ups and downs, but the momentum is building-Nottingham Forest need to keep this form going in the Premier League and push forward with confidence.

Nottingham Forest captain Ryan Yates has made no attempt to play down the importance of this afternoon’s Premier League showdown with fellow relegation battlers Crystal Palace.

The two sides face off at the City Ground in a 2pm kick-off, with just three points separating them in the table. Palace currently sit above Forest, but victory for the Reds would significantly strengthen their survival push while pulling the Eagles deeper into the relegation fight.

Forest head into the contest full of confidence after collecting seven points from their last three league matches, capped by an emphatic 4-0 Europa League victory over Ferencváros on Thursday. Palace, meanwhile, arrive without a win in their last 11 matches across all competitions.

The fixture also carries added edge following tensions between the clubs last summer. Palace were removed from the Europa League after breaching multi-club ownership regulations, with Forest taking their place — a decision that sparked strong criticism from Eagles chairman Steve Parish.

Speaking ahead of the game, Yates admitted the magnitude of the occasion.

“Honestly, it’s a huge match,” he said. “I normally try to play things down, but given our home form and everything that’s happened at the club, we want to deliver the best performance possible.

“We want to start quickly like we did on Thursday and carry that momentum into the league. When other teams are struggling, you have to take advantage, and that’s exactly what we plan to do. We’re really excited for it.

“Since the manager came in, our approach hasn’t changed. Whether it’s a friendly or a league game, especially at home, we want to play with the same intensity and style.”

Yates acknowledged the inconsistent nature of Forest’s campaign but stressed the importance of building confidence and momentum within the squad.

“It’s been a season of ups and downs, but we want to build belief and keep that momentum going. What we did on Thursday gives us a big boost heading into what is a massive game for us.”

One player brimming with confidence is striker Igor Jesus. The Brazilian scored twice in midweek as Forest concluded the league phase of their European campaign, taking his tally to six goals in the competition this season.

Although he has only netted twice in the Premier League, one of those goals came in last weekend’s 2-0 win away at Brentford, and he will be hoping to add to that tally against Palace.

“He settled in straight away,” Yates said of the forward. “With some signings, you can tell they’ll need time to adapt, but with Igor, from his very first minutes, he’s been a real positive influence for us.

“He’s now getting the rewards. He’s been outstanding in Europe, and while goals are vital for a striker, he offers so much more — his work rate and creativity really help the team.

“We’ve had a strong sense of togetherness at this club for years, and he fits right into that. He’s a true team player. He’d be just as happy for us to win without him scoring, and that says everything about his character.”