Boss plays down any rivalry talk ahead of Palace visit

NOTTINGHAM

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Forest head coach Sean Dyche has played down any notion of a rivalry between the Reds and Crystal Palace ahead of this weekend's City Ground clash.Tomorrow's match on the banks of the Trent (2pm) is an important one in the context of the Premier League relegation battle. Only three points separate the teams, meaning a win for the hosts would boost their survival hopes and drag the 15th-placed Eagles into the thick of the fight.

But there is some added spice to the meeting, given a fair bit of needle developed between the two clubs during the summer. It stemmed from Forest replacing Palace in the Europa League when the latter were demoted to the Conference League for falling foul of multi-club ownership rules.

Asked about the rivalry, Dyche said: “I've never heard about it. I don't know where that's come from, apart from the obvious wrangles over Europe.

“I don't think it's a derby game, that's for sure.