Crystal Palace returned to Premier League action with a huge win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon, but despite the 3-1 win, there were some big talking points to take from the game. 

In the first half, Palace rode their luck and were fortunate not to concede at least one or two more goals, with Walter Benítez stepping up to make a number of excellent saves, combined with a tragic lack of finishing in front of goal from Glasner’s side. 

Palace fans saw that script many times during the Austrian’s reign in South London, and there was an element of justice that it went in Palace’s favour on Glasner’s return to Selhurst Park. 

But what were the key takeaways from the game, and where do Palace need to improve as another tough Europa League game approaches? 

From the start of the game, Palace were extremely poor. The 30 minute spell between Forest’s goal and Palace finally waking up was a genuinely difficult watch. 

Whilst it can be easy to point to the manager and criticise the set up, it did feel like it was more a case of individual errors that were responsible for the constant flow of chances falling Forest’s way. There was a clear advantage for Forest which they exploited excellently through Dan Ndoye on the left hand side. 

Glasner’s prior knowledge of the side and players will have undoubtedly influenced this, as he targeted Lerma’s lack of pace down that side, and to great effect too. Ndoye scored the opener after a mistake from Anan Khalaili, but the Swiss international bombarded Lerma with a flurry of devastating attacks. 

This was undoubtedly a weak spot which Forest looked to exploit, and something that Sage will have to consider going forwards. Against a fast, tricky winger, Lerma is not going to stand much chance due to his lack of pace.  

There can be criticism of the instructions for the more attacking players in that half though, as Khalaili didn’t provide much in terms of defensive support, which was a key element in how Forest exposed the backline. 

Similarly on the left, Mitchell was left outnumbered and consistently marking two players at the back post. Yéremy Pino defended well in the first half, but his importance to the attacking transitions meant he often stayed forwards, which meant Mitchell was isolated against a combination of Gibbs-White and Muñoz. 

The academy graduate did well though, and limited that attacking output with great success, especially considering how Forest leant towards that side when going forward in their games before the international break.

Despite the disjointed nature of the first half, the final 5-10 minutes were really positive for Pierre Sage’s side. Fast, direct passing and neat interplay between the midfielders and attackers created the equalising goal. 

The role that Quinten Timber has played since signing for the club is also one which cannot be understated. The Netherlands international had a difficult time over the break, heavily criticised by Dutch media, especially for his performances off the bench in their Nations League games. 

Fortunately for Palace, he returned to the starting eleven with just as much grit and quality as he had displayed in abundance prior to the break. 

The two flicks that he makes in that passage of play are truly excellent pieces of skill, and his quick thinking clearly plays a role in Palace’s attacking play. 

That goal also highlighted the benefit of having Daichi Kamada starting in the front three. The Japanese international plays with a great level of technical flair, and his ball progression stood out, as well as his ability to maintain possession when Palace were under the cosh in the second half. 

The overall performance in that second forty-five minutes was a stark improvement on the first half, but the question remains of whether Palace can sustain that level over an entire ninety minutes, and that simply has to be the next progression for the side. 

With Ismaïla Sarr back fit, many fans may expect him to simply walk back into the starting lineup considering his performances last season. However, the system and performances of those that would be impacted by that decision may make it more difficult for a simple re-integration. 

Daichi Kamada’s role in the side has developed drastically over the season, and he is now operating as a third central midfielder when Palace are out of possession, with the freedom to float across the pitch and not strictly stay wide on the right when Palace are attacking. 

In order for Sarr to come back in, either Kamada or Timber will have to drop to the bench, and that is much easier said than done. Timber has been one of, if not the standout players for Palace this season, and the side simply cannot afford to lose his physicality in midfield.

Therefore, it would likely be Kamada who is dropped, but there will be doubt over whether Sarr can perform the same role in a similarly effective way. 

This could mean that the Senegalese international has to hold a place on the bench for some time to come. Palace could make use of his pace and directness in attacking phases, but he will also have to work extremely hard defensively to match the output from Kamada so far. 

Sage could find himself making that decision solely based on the opponent and their structure, as sacrificing Kamada in games where the midfield battle is going to be key could end up being somewhat self-sabotaging. 

That’s going to be an area of the pitch and team selection to keep an eye on going forward.