Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest: No late breakthrough as rivals hit stalemate
The build-up to this game focused more on off-pitch issues, with the two sides developing some rivalry after Crystal Palace were demoted to the Conference League by Uefa, and their Europa League spot given to Nottingham Forest.
A ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed that decision only last week, leading the wags to dub this fixture the el casico.
Not that both sides haven’t had issues of their own directly connected to performance on the pitch. Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo had complained in the media that he was short of personnel to compete simultaneously in the league and in Europe this season.
What followed were rumours of a consequent falling out with owner Evangelos Marinakis, casting doubt over Nuno’s future at the club, even if the club sanctioned a £100m outlay in the week after his outburst.
In his presser ahead of this fixture, Palace manager Oliver Glasner took a similar approach, warning that Palace were toying with relegation by not replacing sold stars Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze.
When they finally got down to the game, both sides showed the willingness to compete, making up with desire what may have been lacking at times in quality. Palace started as the livelier side and had the overall better chances in the first half, although Forest had the pick of the bunch very early in the game, but Morgan Gibbs-White’s effort from the right was wasted by Chris Wood after he directed his first-time shot from six yards too wide.
Palace’s goal just after the half-hour came from a well-worked team effort. Adam Wharton received the ball in front of the box and played a one-time pass out wide to Daniel Munoz, who then squared for Ismaila Sarr to finish.
Just a few minutes later, Will Hughes pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the box and whipped it with venom towards the far post, threatening to put the home side two-nil up, but it went just wide.
Forest’s equaliser came in the second half when, in a moment of inspiration, Dan Ndoye switched play from left to right with a fabulous diagonal pass straight through the middle of the pitch, which allowed Hudson Odoi to run at the Palace goal. The winger kept his composure under pressure from Mitchell and finished past Henderson in the bottom right corner.
Palace went up the pitch almost immediately and tried to regain their lead, but Justin Gevenny’s header was tame and comfortably saved by Matz Sels.
Nuno then brought on new signings James McAtee, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Omari Hutchinson. Both sides were looking for ways to win but Forest looked the more likely. The away side had improved considerably in the second half and the debutants soon gave them a sharper edge, but Palace were solid.
Until at one point in stoppage time when dos Santos Murillo released Maciel Igor Jesus down the inside left channel. Pressure from Palace defender Marc Guehi forced him a bit wide but he managed to let out a fierce shot that seemed headed for the top right corner, but just unluckily hit the post. The ball then dropped to Hutchinson but the debutant skied his attempt.
Seconds later, at the other end of the pitch, Sarr collapsed – the right word – in the Forest box and a shout went up for a penalty. It looked like a debate could be had about it, but the Palace man was offside in the build-up so it didn’t matter.
