Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace. Nottingham Forest fought back to secure a point against Crystal Palace at the City Ground and move out of the Premier League relegation zone.
The hosts fell behind in their first match since being docked four points for financial rules breaches, with Jean-Philippe Mateta slotting home Eberechi Eze’s perfect lay-off.
But Chris Wood equalised just after the hour mark, nodding Morgan Gibbs-White’s floated pass over oncoming Palace keeper Dean Henderson for his 10th goal of the season.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest had dropped into the bottom three after their points deduction, but this point moved them up to 17th – above Luton on goal difference.
Forest, who are winless since beating West Ham on 17 February, nearly fell to another defeat late on but Daniel Munoz’s header hit the post in the 90th minute.
England winger Eze proved the danger man for Oliver Glasner’s Palace throughout, forcing Forest keeper Matz Sels into two outstanding saves when one-on-one either side of half-time.
But the visitors failed to make the most of their chances and could not secure a fourth away win of the season, as Forest remained unbeaten against Palace in the Premier League.
Forest came out fighting on the field after the points deduction dropped them into the relegation zone – and the home fans followed suit.
A banner in the Trent End before kick-off displayed the words “we shall fight and we shall overcome”.
Forest have already announced they will appeal against their punishment, but it is on the pitch where they need to start winning points if they want to distance themselves from the bottom three.
Battling back to earn a point is a start for the Reds and Saturday’s draw allowed them to gain ground on two other relegation rivals, as Luton succumbed to a late loss at Tottenham and Everton were beaten by Bournemouth after Seamus Coleman’s injury-time own goal.
source – BBC
