Crystal Palace 3-1 Nottingham: Wharton inspires comeback win

Crystal Palace turned Sunday 11 October 2026 into the match of round 6 with a 3-1 comeback against Nottingham. It had everything the other results lacked in combination: four goals, both teams on the scoresheet, a lead change, and a home side that recovered from an early setback to take control.

Crystal Palace vs Nottingham was also a game of contrasting patterns. Nottingham finished with 57% possession and 24 total shots to Palace’s 13, yet the home side were far more decisive at key moments.

How the match unfolded

The visitors struck almost immediately. In the 3rd minute, Dan Ndoye put Nottingham 1-0 up, setting the tone for a frantic opening and giving Palace work to do from the outset.

Nottingham continued to carry threat, posting eight big chances across the match, but Palace hung in and found a foothold as half-time approached. On 41 minutes, Daichi Kamada brought the hosts level at 1-1, with Quinten Timber providing the assist. It was the turning point Palace needed, and the equaliser changed the feel of the contest.

Then came the decisive burst before the interval. In first-half stoppage time (45+4), Jefferson Lerma completed the turnaround to make it 2-1, assisted by Adam Wharton. From trailing after three minutes to leading at the break, Palace had flipped the match on its head with ruthless timing.

The second half stayed open, with Nottingham still creating and Palace still having to defend, but the home side landed the next punch. On 59 minutes, Yeremy Pino made it 3-1, giving Palace breathing space and forcing Nottingham into a chase.

Standout players and match ratings

Wharton was the standout performer, earning the highest match rating on the pitch with an 8.3. His assist for Lerma’s 45+4 goal underlined his influence at a pivotal moment.

Behind him, Walter Benitez produced a strong 7.9 across 90 minutes, important in a match where Nottingham managed six shots on target and both goalkeepers made four saves. Tyrick Mitchell (7.7) also completed the full match, while Pino’s 83 minutes were rewarded with a 7.6 after his second-half strike.

For Nottingham, Ndoye’s early goal was backed up by an excellent 7.9 match rating in 72 minutes, reflecting his direct impact even as the result slipped away.

At the other end of the scale, Anan Khalaili posted Palace’s lowest match rating with 5.7, while James McAtee was Nottingham’s lowest-rated player at 6.1.

What it means in the table

The win lifts Crystal Palace to 12th after six matches, moving up from 15th and taking them to seven points. Coming from behind to secure a two-goal victory will feel significant, even in a game where the underlying shot count favoured the visitors.

Nottingham, meanwhile, slip to 15th from 13th, staying on five points after six played. Despite strong volume in front of goal and a higher xG (2.97 to 2.38), they leave with nothing because Palace were sharper when it mattered most.

Why it was round 6’s standout

Round 6 had plenty of goals elsewhere, including Chelsea’s 5-1 win over Bournemouth and Coventry’s 4-1 victory against Newcastle, but this was the one with the full narrative arc: an early away goal, a lead change, and a clear comeback completed with three unanswered Palace strikes.