Nottingham Forest miss chance to boost Champions League chances with draw at Crystal Palace
Nottingham Forest’s quest for Champions League football next season suffered a setback when they were held to a draw at Crystal Palace.
They were a goal down, but Murillo cancelled out Eberechi Eze’s second-half penalty.
The draw leaves Forest in sixth place in the table on 61 points from 35 games, two points behind fifth-placed Chelsea in the final Champions League qualification position.
Mid-table Palace took the lead in south London when Eze converted a penalty on the hour-mark after Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels had felled Tyrick Mitchell. Eze also hit the crossbar late on.
The lead lasted four minutes before Neco Williams’ shot was deflected into the Palace net by defender Murillo, who limped off shortly afterwards with a hamstring injury that could see him miss Forest’s run-in to the end of the campaign.
Full report to follow
10:04 PM BST
Here’s how the top of the table looks
10:01 PM BST
FULL TIME: Palace 1 Forest 1
Not the win Forest wanted to help their bid for Champions League football. Palace edged the second half but, overall, a draw seems like a fair result.
09:58 PM BST
99 mins: Palace 1 Forest 1
Not sure how long is left in this…possibly as many as five minutes…
09:57 PM BST
97 mins: Palace 1 Forest 1
Milenkovic is now down for Forest. He’s down for a while, he was caught accidentally with an arm from Lerma at the corner, so that will add yet more minutes to added time.
09:55 PM BST
94 mins: Palace 1 Forest 1
Corner for Palace. They’re the ones asking all the questions and the more likely to find a winner.
From this set-piece the ball finds itself back to Hughes, who took the corner, and he has a go from distance, the ball just going over giving Forest another heart-in-mouth moment.
09:53 PM BST
92 mins: Palace 1 Forest 1
The ref, Andy Madley, has some problems with his comms equipment. It’s sorted out but there will now be more than the eight minutes of added time.
09:51 PM BST
91 mins: Palace 1 Forest 1
Palace find the back of the net. Eze has the ball on the left inside the box, he squeezes in a shot that Nketiah sidefoots home. Alas, the striker was offside, to the extent no one complains when the ‘goal’ is chalked off immediately.
09:49 PM BST
90 mins: Palace 1 Forest 1
Plenty of time for one of this pair to find a winner as there will be eight, yes eight, minutes of added time.
09:48 PM BST
88 mins: Palace 1 Forest 1
Eze hits the crossbar. The England man picks the ball up on the left just outside the box, takes a look, cuts in and bends one to the far right corner of the goal. It beats Sels, but not the woodwork. So close for Palace…
09:45 PM BST
86 mins: Palace 1 Forest 1
Eze’s ball from the right sets up Lacroix via the boot of Guehi but he cannot get his shot away.
There have been a lot of ‘nearly moments’ this half.
09:42 PM BST
84 mins: Palace 1 Forest 1
Great chance for the hosts, Guehi lobs the ball into the box, there’s a flick on that simply begs Lacroix to head it into the back of the net at the back post. But the Palace man heads over…should have at least got that on target.
09:40 PM BST
80 mins: Palace 1 Forest 1
Murillo is injured and is replaced by fellow Brazilian Morato. Murillo took a big swipe at the ball, clearing in the manner of Peter Kay in the John Smith’s ‘Ave it’ advert, and seemingly pulls a muscle…
But before Morato can come on, Nketiah has a great chance for the hosts, the striker hitting the attempt well wide. Had that gone in Forest, down to 10 men for a moment, would have been incensed.
09:36 PM BST
76 mins: Palace 1 Forest 1
Forest need the three points to put pressure on the top five, they have roughly 15 minutes to finds a winner.
09:35 PM BST
73 mins: Palace 1 Forest 1
Eze is poleaxed by Sangare. Madley could have reached for a card but give the Forest man the benefit of the doubt.
Changes…
For Palace: Nketiah replaces Mateta, who’s been anonymous tonight.
For Forest: Yates replaces Sangare.
09:30 PM BST
70 mins: Palace 1 Forest 1
Corner for Palace. It’s on the left and Eze delivers, it ultimately comes to Kamada who shows the Forest defenders a pair of twinkle toes before shooting, it’s deflected for another corner. From this set piece nothing is created.
This half has been far more entertaining than the first. More energy, more directness and, as a result, two goals.
09:26 PM BST
Did he mean it?
You decide!
09:25 PM BST
GOOOOOAAAAAALLLL!
Palace 1 Forest 1
Great a response from the visitors. From the resulting corner, Palace do not deal with the danger. The ball comes to Williams outside the box, he shoots. That attempt is then redirected by Murillo into the far-right corner of the net leaving Henderson little chance. Did he mean that? Let’s be nice and give the defender the benefit of the doubt…
09:22 PM BST
62 mins: Palace 1 Forest 0
Free-kick for Forest on the left just outside the area. Elanga stands over the ball and goes for goal, forcing a good save from Henderson in the Palace goal.
09:20 PM BST
No mistake from Eze
09:18 PM BST
GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!
Palace 1 Forest 0
Eze missed his last penalty, against Newcastle, can he find the back of the net here?
YES. HE. CAN. Sels goes the right way (to his right) but Eze hits it with too much power and Palace have the lead.
09:17 PM BST
55 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Sarr crosses a great ball into the box, it’s flirting with the six-yard box and Mitchell is on the end of it. He goes down after Sels dangles out a leg BUT Andy Madley says no penalty.
VAR, however, intervenes and, after a minute, that decision is correctly reversed. There’s just a yellow card for Sels…
09:12 PM BST
53 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
We’ve seen more of Eze and Sarr in the past three or so minutes than we did in the entire first-half. Not something Forest will want to continue.
09:11 PM BST
52 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
We’ve waited a long time for that goalmouth action – phew, it’s finally come.
09:10 PM BST
50 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Two great chances (one for either side) in a matter of seconds.
(i) Sels spreads himself brilliantly saving from Sarr, after great work from Eze.
(ii) Forest then charge to the other end of the pitch, finding Wood whose shot is deflected just with by the calf of Lacroix.
09:08 PM BST
49 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Sarr heads just wide after Forest switch off on a Palace free-kick. They completely ignore Munoz who is given the ball by Eze straight from the set piece, his cross finding the head of Sarr.
09:05 PM BST
47 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Good early signs for the visitors. Elanga and Gibbs-White work well on the counter on the left and earn a corner. From the set-piece the visitors give away a free kick.
09:03 PM BST
45 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
They’re back under way at Selhurst Park. Forest were the better side in the first 45, will they go for the win and possibly let Palace in by being more open, or keep it as it is and hope to grab a winner? We’re about to find out…
08:48 PM BST
Half-Time: Palace 0 Forest 0
Two decent chances created – one per side – but nothing to really get the juices following.
08:48 PM BST
45 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
There will be just the one minute of added time – going on the lack of real entertainment that’s probably for the best.
08:46 PM BST
42 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Really good, sweeping move from Forest creates their first real chance of the night. They turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye, what they’ve done a lot this season. Gibbs-White turns on the edge of his own box and passes to Dominguez. He then feeds Wood who passes to Elanga – the winger’s left-footed shot saved by the lags of Henderson.
08:43 PM BST
40 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
There has been a lot of huffing and puffing so far but, bar that Munoz chance, nothing concrete created. Feels as though this is the sort of match where the deadlock will be broken with a set-piece.
As I type that Wood goes down in the box, but neither the ref or VAR sees anything worthy of their intervention.
08:41 PM BST
37 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Corner for Palace – they’ve looked dangerous from set-pieces. Can they put Forest under more pressure?
‘No’ as the whistle goes for a foul in the box – that looked a bit sixes and sevens, nothing really troublesome, but the referee, Andy Madley, sees it differently.
08:36 PM BST
35 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Best chance of the match comes the way of the hosts. Great delivery from the left by Mitchell finds Munoz at the back post, he volleys first time but Sels, as so often has been the case this season, saves well.
08:35 PM BST
33 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
A rare foray for Palace into the Forest box, but Munoz’s cross is straight to a Forest man and the hint of joy comes to nothing.
08:32 PM BST
31 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Palace cannot get hold of the ball at the moment and are very much on the back foot.
08:31 PM BST
29 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Good spot by the camera man – he zooms in on Hudson-Odoi with the Forest fans in the away end. Dedication and loyalty.
08:30 PM BST
27 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Free kick for Forest inside the final third – can they create something from this? ‘Nope’ is the long and short of it. Anderson’s delivery is too deep (deeper than an philosophy PhD) and it’s a goal kick for the hosts.
08:28 PM BST
24 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Forest seeing more of the ball at the moment and looking more dangerous. As I type Elanga is free on the left and delivers a ball the Wood throws himself at. Palace do well to regroup and clear the danger.
Tens minutes ago the hosts were on top, that’s changed on its head since.
08:23 PM BST
21 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Forest have come more and more into this. When not in possession the visitors are sitting back and letting Palace have the ball forcing them into lots of short passes, not their style.
08:22 PM BST
19 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Elanga has had some joy on the left, he feeds Williams on the overlap but his cross goes straight out for a goal kick.
08:20 PM BST
17 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Nearly an embarrassing moment for Palace as a mix up between Mitchell and Henderson nearly results in the ball ending up in their own net. The defender heads back towards his keeper who, the replay shows, makes a fine instinctive save with his right boot to prevent the hosts going 1-0 down. There would have been some red faces had that gone in.
08:17 PM BST
15 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Stats show Forest have had more passes BUT, tellingly, Palace have been in danger areas more. That’s how the game is playing out to this set of eyes.
08:14 PM BST
13 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Another corner for Palace – they are looking the better side – this delivery from Wharton, who looks a class apart at the moment, is better handled by the visitors’ defence.
08:14 PM BST
12 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Corner for Palace on the right. It comes in low to the six-yard box and there’s a melee, it’s a case of bundles (anyone remember that as a child?!) and Forest, just, clear the danger.
08:12 PM BST
11 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Palace seeing more of the ball and looking increasingly dangerous. No clearcut chances yet but good signs for the hosts.
08:12 PM BST
9 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Another throw for the hosts inside the final third. After the ball goes backwards it is launched back into the box but Sels, who’s been one of the standout players for Forest this season, comes and claims the ball with ease.
08:09 PM BST
7 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Free-kick for the hosts inside the Forest half. It’s delivered deep into the box and finds the head of Guehi who nods it back across the area. Forest deal with the danger well.
08:06 PM BST
5 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Throw for Palace in the final third, can they create something from this? ‘Nearly’ is the answer as the ball comes to the impressive Wharton and his shot is blocked inside the box. Game yet to really get going.
08:04 PM BST
3 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Anderson has the ball inside the Palace box, after decent work down the left, and his shot is well blocked. Even start.
08:03 PM BST
2 mins: Palace 0 Forest 0
Mateta in his own half early one and exchanges a couple of one-twos. It’s all neat and pleasing on the eye but leads to nothing.
08:01 PM BST
1 min: Palace 0 Forest 0
They’re under way in south London. Palace are in their traditional red and blue kit, while Forest are in their baby blue number.
07:57 PM BST
The two teams are out
Glad All Over is being sung, and we’re moments away from kick-off.
07:57 PM BST
Nuno Espirito Santo speaks to Sky Sports – ‘This is a tough place to come’
On the challenge facing Forest tonight…
“It’s always the moment that we test ourselves and [Crystal] Palace is a very good team that are going to push us to our limits Palace are a talented team, very good players, good shape and organisation. We expect here at Selhurst Park always a tough place to come. But let’s compete, enjoy the game and play good.”
On pushing for a Champions League place…
“We should enjoy [it]. Nobody expected us to be here in this fight, so let’s enjoy and give it a go.”
On Callum Hudson-Odoi not being in the squad…
“He has a hamstring problem, he’s going to be out, we’re not sure how long, but not for this game and the next.”
07:47 PM BST
Oliver Glasner speaks to Sky Sports – ‘Best preparation for FA Cup final is to win today’
On what the player have done since the semi-final win...
“The players did so well [in the FA Cup semi-final] and everyone’s fit and trained at a high level during the week and deserved to start the game. We gave them four days off so this was already planned before the semi-final because it was the first time the international players had four days off and they need mental freshness for the last free week with big games to play. Players came back on Thursday and looked sharp in training and focused and today we have to show it on the pitch.”
On naming an unchanged XI…
“We had more or less the same situation before the semi-final, we had five games in two weeks and we played the strongest team at Arsenal three days before the semi-final and it helped us increase our confidence and belief with a great performance there. This was the message towards the players again.”
On the mindset heading into the last few matches of the season…
“The best preparation for the final is having two great performances today against Nottingham [Forest] and on Sunday against Tottenham, and this will help have the best level for the [Manchester] City game.”
07:39 PM BST
Good stats for Forest fans
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Palace have only won one of their past 14 league meetings with Nottingham Forest (D6 L7) and are haven’t won in eight (D5 L3) since a 1-0 win in the Championship in December 2011.
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Forest have won nine away Premier League matches this season and have only won 10 top-flight away matches in a season on three occasions – in 1977-78 (finished first), 1978-79 (second) and 1994-95 (third).
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Palace are winless in their past four Premier League matches (D2 L2),their worst run since going eight without a win at the start of this season.
07:22 PM BST
Glad all over!
Not only are the south Londoners in the FA Cup Final, more on that in a mo, they are also five points off 50 in the Premier League, a mark they’ve never reached. Three points tonight would take them to 48 leaving home games against Tottenham and Wolves and a trip to Anfield to try and earn the other two (or more). Should they go past the half-century and shock Man City at Wembley Jamie Carragher says they’ll go down as Palace’s greatest ever side.
Who doesn’t love a bit of nostalgia? Here’s the Palace 1990 side (beaten by Man Utd in the Cup Final) singing the club’s song on Derek Jameson’s show (remember him?!)
07:12 PM BST
Here’s a stat
Crystal Palace have never beaten Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, something Oliver Glasner was not aware of (he’s just been told by the affable Dave Jones on Sky Sports).
07:10 PM BST
Here are the two teams in good, old-fashioned black and white
CRYSTAL PALACE XI TO FACE FOREST: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta. Subs: Matthews, Lerma, Nketiah, Franca, Clyne, Hughes, Esse, Chilwell, Devenny.
Oliver Glasner names an unchanged XI from the one that was so impressive in the 3-0 FA Cup semi-final win over Aston Villa.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST XI TO FACE PALACE: Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Anderson, Sangare; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Dominguez; Wood. Subs: Miguel, Morato, Awoniyi, Toffolo, Silva, Yates, Sosa, Danilo, Boly
Nuno Espirito Santo makes two changes from the XI that lost 2-0 defeat to Brentford on Thursday. Callum Hudson-Odoi is out with a hamstring problem. Ryan Yates drops to the bench, with Nicolas Dominguez and Ibrahim Sangare coming in.
06:51 PM BST
Forest team news
Nuno makes two changes: Domínguez comes in for the injured Hudson-Odoi and Sangaré replaces Yates.
06:49 PM BST
Palace team news
Palace stick to FA Cup semi-final winning starting XI.
06:06 PM BST
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06:03 PM BST
Preview: Timber!?
An away day in Croydon is something most people would turn their noses up at. But for Nottingham Forest it comes at a crucial moment in their season. They face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park knowing they need a victory to keep alive their hopes of Champions League football next year.
A season that, even as recently as early April, promised so much is in danger of petering out. Forest have lost four of their past five matches in all competitions, a run that included defeat in the FA Cup semi-final, and have dropped out of the top five in the Premier League.
So, a season that at one point seemed likely to serve up possible Cup glory and Champions League jaunts, may well come to nothing more than a top-half finish and a place in the Europa League.
In their bid to keep the Champions League dream alive, Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo wants his side to get back to the “basics of football” and rediscover their ability to keep clean sheets.
“We’re going to fight. We’re going to face a very good team,” Nuno said. “Palace [are] a good team, a very good football team, but now our major [concern] is ourselves.
“Honestly, we’re going to go and we have to work, not so much physical, but going back to the basics of football.
“The basics of football, how many times do you see a clean sheet is the beginning of everything, so he has to be our priority at Palace.
“So one thing is, for certainty, if we are until the end of the season the team that has more clean sheets, we’re going to be in a good place. So let’s focus on that.”
Stay here to find out whether the Trees will be cut down to size or whether they’ll be standing tall in south London.
We’ll have all the team news and action, with kick-off set for 8pm.
