Report & Highlights: Palace and Forest share the spoils at Selhurst

Summary:

• Two changes for Palace for first home match of 25/26: Richards and Mitchell come in.
• 5: Fast start sees early chances for Devenny for Palace and Wood for Forest.
• 24: Muñoz’s delivery almost catches out Sels at his near post.
• 29: Mateta tests Sels from distance.
• 34: Gibbs-White blazes over for Forest from Wood’s clever lay-off.
• 39 – GOAL: Sarr guides home Muñoz’s clipped cross to give Palace deserved lead.
• 42: Hughes smashes a volleyed effort narrowly wide of the far post.
• 45+1: Guéhi stoops and nods against the post with last touch of the half.
• HT: Palace 1-0 Forest
• 55: Hughes half-volleys over from Lacroix’s knockdown.
• 57- GOAL: Hudson-Odoi races away to draw Forest level.
• 59: Devenny heads goalwards but his finish lacks the power to trouble Sels.
• 70: Chances dry up in a more combative second period.
• 90+3: Jesus smashes against the post for Forest, before Hutchinson blazes over.
• 90+4: Sarr see a late penalty claim denied by VAR.
• 90+5: Hutchinson shoots over under pressure from Guéhi and Henderson.
• FT: Palace 1-1 Forest

In the build-up to the game, Oliver Glasner had predicted a tight contest – citing last season’s two low-scoring matches between the two clubs – and so the case proved in the first quarter of the game.

That being said, both teams did exchange early chances, with Justin Devenny – playing as Palace’s left-sided attacker – being found well on the gallop by Sarr after four minutes, only for his low ball in to be cut out by Murillo with the goalkeeper beaten.

Ever-dangerous in transition, Forest countered quickly and Morgan Gibbs-White put in a flat cross which Chris Wood, running across goal, was first to. The Forest forward – who scored twice on opening weekend – was under pressure from Chris Richards, and got too much contact on his finish.

That paved the way for a quieter spell in the next 20 minutes, two hard-working, high-intensity sets of midfielders somewhat cancelling one another out – although when Palace did get the ball forwards early, they did get into a number of promising positions, with Devenny and Tyrick Mitchell on the left, and Sarr and Daniel Muñoz on the right, linking up well to good effect.

Indeed, after Muñoz’s mis-hit delivery almost caught Forest ‘keeper Matz Sels out at his near post – the shot-stopper scrambling it behind, only for the flag to go up anyhow – a quick pass into Jean-Philippe Mateta’s feet from Will Hughes saw the Palace forward use Sarr’s run as a decoy, smashing goalwards from 30 yards, and forcing Sels to parry away again.

Forest’s chances in the half were few and far between, but Gibbs-White will have thought he should have done better when found in space by Wood’s cute lay-off on the edge of the area. His finish flew wildly over the edge of the bar.

Then, on 39 minutes, Palace’s fully-merited lead finally arrived.

When Forest could only half-clear Mitchell’s initial cross, Hughes did superbly to retrieve the ball for Wharton, who worked it quickly to Muñoz.

The Colombian’s clipped cross had a great shape on it towards the penalty spot, landing perfect to Sarr – similarly to his goal against Aston Villa from the same position last season – to guide home first-time on the volley, and wheel away in glee.

That saw the half finally open up, and further opportunities were quick to follow: Hughes with an inspired half-volleyed effort from Mitchell’s lay-off, which flew narrowly wide of the far post; and Guéhi, with the last touch of the half, stopping to head Wharton’s free-kick, only for the effort to smack the frame of the goal and bounce behind.

Nevertheless, Palace will have been satisfied with their first-half’s work – efficient, as Glasner had asked for, when they needed to be.

The second-half started in similar fashion, a gritty contest of few changes – but one where Forest, quite in the first period, admittedly offered more.

The first half-chance on 55 minutes arrived when another long throw caused panic inside the visitors’ box and Hughes, getting to Maxence Lacroix’s knockdown, smashed over the bar.

But on 57 minutes, Forest drew level. A first-time pass forward from Dan Ndoye found Callum Hudson-Odoi racing away on the outside, and carrying the ball into the box, he forward placed a low effort goalwards  - the visitors’ first shot on target in the game – which Dean Henderson got a toe to, but could not keep out.

Palace were not cowed and looked to hit back immediately, with Devenny heading goalwards from Mitchell’s cross – an attempt saved low down by Sels – and Lacroix smashing across goal, only for Forest centre-back Murillo to adjust his feet well to clear.

The introduction of Romain Esse on 65 minutes added additional impetus for Palace down the left, as the 20-year-old won a succession of set-pieces for his side, albeit well dealt with by the visitors.

True to Glasner’s pre-match predictions, chances, in the final quarter of the game, proved few and far between to come – but after a raft of late substitutions from both sides, there was to be a late flurry of opportunities.

Forest came the closer of the two teams, another early ball in behind setting Igor Jesus scampering towards goal from the angle. Taking on Guéhi, he smashed a finish high across Henderson’s goal – and thankfully against the post – before Omari Hutchinson, collecting inside the box, blazed over the bar.

Seconds later, Palace thought they’d enjoy a gilt-edged chance of their own when Sarr was hauled down by Ryan Yates following Odsonne Edouard’s late flick – but VAR ruled the Eagles’ No. 7 to be offside.

And then, with pretty much the last kick, a long ball forwards found Hutchinson running goalwards again – but under pressure from Henderson and Guéhi, and leaning back, he sliced over the crossbar.

The points were thus ultimately shared in Palace’s first home fixture of 2025/26, with Palace now Norway-bound for the second leg of our Conference League play-off round tie against Fredrikstad.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Muñoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi, Mitchell, Hughes, Wharton (Lerma, 82), Sarr, Devenny (Esse, 65), Mateta (Edouard, 89).

Subs: Matthews (GK), Benítez (GK), Clyne, Sosa, Rodney, Cardines.

Nottingham Forest: Sels (GK), Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Aina, Sangare (Yates, 88), Anderson, Hudson-Odoi (McAtee, 72), Ndoye (Kalimuendo, 72), Gibbs-White (Hutchinson, 82), Wood (Jesus, 88).

Subs: Gunn (GK), Morato, Douglas Luiz, Boly.

As It Happened