Report: Palace hit back to earn point at Forest

First-team

8 hours ago

Crystal Palace secured a 1-1 draw away at Nottingham Forest on Sunday after Ismaïla Sarr's first-half penalty earned the Eagles a point.

Morgan Gibbs-White gave Forest an early lead, but the Eagles stayed in the contest and found a way back into the game just before half-time.

Jefferson Lerma's header was handballed off the line by Neco Williams, leaving Sarr to equalise from the penalty spot.

Summary:

Oliver Glasner welcomes back Chadi Riad to the Palace starting XI, one of three changes.
4: Lerma goes close forcing an excellent save from Sels.
GOAL – 6: Gibbs-White gives Forest the lead after bundling home from close range.
10: Lacroix heads over after Johnson’s teasing cross.
27: Sarr curls a shot just over the bar.
45: Williams only clears Lerma’s header off the line with his hand. Red card is shown to the Forest full-back.
GOAL - 45+2: Sarr converts his penalty to send Palace in level at half-time.
HT: Forest 1-1 Palace
48: Hughes shoots over from just outside the box.
61: Johnson heads just wide after Muñoz’s cross.
FT: Forest 1-1 Palace

Chadi Riad returned to the starting line-up for the first time this season, making a first appearance since last season’s FA Cup third-round, as Oliver Glasner also brought Will Hughes and Yéremy Pino into his starting XI.

It was Palace who had the first dangerous attack of the game, with Hughes seeing an effort blocked after Pino broke into the Forest penalty area.

The ball then found Jefferson Lerma, who bent a shot towards the far corner, only for Matz Sels to respond with an excellent save.

Then, with their first real attack, Forest had the lead. Ola Aina launched in a long throw which Palace couldn’t clear. Their captain Morgan Gibbs-White took full advantage, reacting quickly to put the ball past Dean Henderson.

In an open start, the Eagles carried a real threat going forward. Brennan Johnson nearly created an immediate equaliser, his cross finding Maxence Lacroix who headed narrowly over.

The goalscorer Gibbs-White then forced Henderson into action with a teasing ball across the face of goal, as both sides continued to threaten in the final third.

Sarr had a great sight of goal in the 23rd minute but opted to pass rather than pull the trigger. In the end he was unable to find Pino.

The Senegal international did get his shot away the next time he found himself running at the Forest defence, unfortunately failing to test Sels.

But the Eagles luck would turn before half-time, just as the game appeared to be drifting away.

Hughes’ corner was met by a bullet header from Lerma. It was miraculously kept out off the line, but only via the hand of Neco Williams.

After a brief second where confusion reigned, referee Tony Harrington pointed to the spot and gave the Wales international his marching orders.

Sarr was as cool as you like from the penalty spot, sending Sels the wrong way and getting the Eagles level, sparking wild celebrations from the Palace faithful behind the goal.

That left Palace with the task of breaking down a defensive minded 10-man Forest in the second-half, with the Eagles predictably controlling possession.

Hughes let fly with a first-time shot with the first effort of the half, but failed to trouble Angus Gunn who had replaced Sels at half-time.

But Forest showed they still had attacking intent ten minutes after the break when Igor Jesus let fly with a long-range effort that only ended up just past the post.

Oliver Glasner then threw on Christantus Uche with half an hour remaining, as Johnson came close to a goal against his former club, heading a Daniel Muñoz cross just wide.

But against a well organised and defensively minded Forest, chances were proving hard to come by.

Uche dragged a shot wide before some lovely play from Pino released Muñoz, only for his cross to be overhit.

At the other end, Henderson had to be alert to make a vital save from Dan Ndoye’s header from a tight angle as the hosts offered a threat on the break.

Hughes fired well over the crossbar at the other end as Forest and when Gunn dealt with Muñoz’s low cross, Palace’s chance for a winner had gone.

The Eagles return to action next weekend with a trip to rivals Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Richards, Lacroix, Riad (Uche, 61), Muñoz, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell, Sarr, Johnson, Pino.

Subs: Benítez (GK), Matthews (GK), Canvot, Clyne, Rodney, Marsh.

Nottingham Forest: Sels (GK) (Gunn, 45), Williams, Murillo, Sangare, Hudson-Odoi (Yates, 45), Anderson, Gibbs-White, Dominguez (Morato, 48), Igor Jesus (Ndoye, 69), Milenkovic, Aina.

Subs: Awoniyi, Lucca, Hutchinson, McAtee, Abbott.

AS IT HAPPENED

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