London, England – Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace played to a tense 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park on Monday night, intensifying the competition for a spot in the Champions League.
Both teams sought crucial points in the Premier League as the season nears its end. Eberechi Eze opened the scoring for Palace, converting a penalty at the 60-minute mark after VAR intervention revealed a foul by Forest’s goalkeeper, Matz Sels.
However, Forest responded quickly, equalizing within four minutes when Murillo flicked home a strike from Neco Williams. The draw maintains Forest’s sixth position in the league, keeping them just two points behind both Newcastle and Chelsea, while Palace sits twelfth, struggling for consistency this season.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner expressed satisfaction with his players’ desire to win, despite the draw. “Good sum up. I think it was pretty even, especially after taking the lead,” he told BBC MOTD. “The equalizer was too quick. We had many situations to come from the wing, but our crosses were not good enough. We weren’t as efficient as in other games.”
Palace’s goalkeeper, Dean Henderson, agreed, noting, “We went on the front foot, but they defend so well in a low block. They nullified our pace on the attack the best we could.” He praised Eze for his penalty, stating, “I had full confidence in him. It was a great penalty so I’m delighted for him.”
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo looked at the match from a positive angle. “We reacted well from the previous performance and were in control. It’s about finding ourselves again after the last few games. The upcoming matches will be tight as everyone is fighting for something,” he stated.
Eze, who scored the opener, reflected on finishing the season strongly, saying, “It’s big, we’ve got huge motivation in the team, we’re all positive and we’ll do everything to achieve as much as we can.”
Despite maintaining their position in the top six, Forest’s injuries raise concerns. Murillo limped off with a suspected hamstring injury, needing assessment, while teammate Ola Aina is also unsure for the upcoming match against Leicester.
Forest’s Champions League ambitions remain in play despite a mixed performance. The club’s next fixtures include critical matches against Leicester, West Ham, and Chelsea. Meanwhile, Palace aims to improve their league position and secure a potential European place.
This draw leaves both teams to fight for their respective goals as the Premier League season heads into its final matches.
