Nottingham Forest’s Winless Streak Continues, but Carragher Sees Reason for Hope
Nottingham Forest extended their winless run with a draw against Crystal Palace last night, but Jamie Carragher believes fans still have reason to be optimistic.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side had to settle for a point at Selhurst Park, coming from behind after Eberechi Eze’s opener. Alongside the dropped points, an injury to Murillo adds further concern for the City Ground outfit.
With just three games remaining, Forest now sit sixth in the table. Their hopes of securing a Champions League spot remain uncertain.
Carragher Remains Confident Despite Setbacks
While Alan Shearer has expressed doubts over Forest’s top-five chances, Carragher remains optimistic, pointing to the upcoming fixtures as pivotal in the race for Europe.
“Selhurst Park is never easy,” Carragher said. “Forest have shown they can get results in big away games, so while this might feel like a letdown, it could prove to be an important point.”
He added, “They face Leicester at home next weekend—a winnable game. Meanwhile, Newcastle and Chelsea face each other, meaning one or both will drop points. That’s a big opportunity for Forest to close the gap or even move ahead.”
Carragher also highlighted that other contenders have tougher fixtures, noting, “Arsenal visit Liverpool, Newcastle face Chelsea, and Aston Villa travel to Bournemouth. There will be points dropped in this battle for Champions League places.”
Stats Undermine Confidence, But Hope Remains
Despite Carragher’s optimism, data from Opta paints a less hopeful picture. Forest are projected to finish sixth, narrowly behind Chelsea and Newcastle, likely missing out on the Champions League and settling for a Europa League spot.
Predicted Final Standings (via Opta):
3) Man City – 70.17 pts
4) Newcastle – 67.53 pts
5) Chelsea – 67.29 pts
6) Nottingham Forest – 65.93 pts
7) Aston Villa – 64.69 pts
Still, Forest remain in contention. But with their current form, they may soon lose control over their Champions League fate unless they turn things around quickly.
Jamie Carragher makes Champions League ‘guarantee’ to Nottingham Forest fans after Crystal Palace draw
