Crystal Palace (H) 30/03/24

Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace 

Wood 61'                                      Mateta 61'

 

Is finishing what’s going to make it hard for Forest to stay up? Or is it poor defending that leads to an opposition goal? The Reds seemed to have the fight and desire needed in a relegation battle but that won’t cut it in the Premier League.

 

Crystal Palace travelled Trentside in a huge game for the hosts. The two sides played out for a 1-1 draw after Palace took a lead within the first 11 minutes. Forest fought back well manging to get an equaliser through a beautiful Chris Wood header. This means the Reds are out of the relegation zone on goal difference. Back in October, Palace hosted Forest in a 0-0 draw. As for injuries, Ola Aina was a surprise inclusion at left-back after he has been out for the Reds since AFCON. Gonzalo Montiel featured on the bench following an ankle injury but striker Taiwo Awoniyi will be a big miss after picking up an injury in training. Oliver Glasner’s side will be without number one goalkeeper, Sam Johnstone, for the rest of the season, as he needed surgery on his elbow. Other big misses included Michael Olise and Marc Guehi.

 

After another brilliant display from Forza Garibaldi to the tune of ‘Mull of Kintyre’, the game was underway. Just 11 minutes in, the visitors took the lead through Jean Philippe Mateta. Following a poor clearance, Palace picked up the ball in the middle of the park. They broke forward with Jefferson Lerma playing a lovely through ball to Eberechi Eze on the left hand side of the box. He was tightly marked by two Forest defenders so played the ball back to Mateta on the edge of the box. He ran on to the ball to fire past Matz Sels into the top left corner.

 

The visitors found themselves with a free-kick on the left hand side which Eze whipped towards the back post. Sels was alert, tipping it behind for a corner after nearly looping over him into the top corner. Following this, the Reds pilled on the pressure but it came to nothing. A good chance fell for Ibrahim Sangare as the ball landed to him on the edge of the area but he blasted over.

 

Forest ‘keeper Matz Sels produced a brilliant save to stop Palace doubling their lead. Youngster, Adam Wharton, played a lovely timed through ball to Eze but Sels came out to the Reds rescue, making himself big and saving it with his arm. The final real chance of the half fell to Lerma following a corner but he was leaning back and the ball fired over.

 

Halftime, 0-1.

 

Forest had a task ahead of them after hearing Luton had taken the lead against Tottenham. Nuno Espirito Santo decided to bring on Anthony Elanga at halftime for Sangare after he had struggled a little in the centre of midfield.

 

Palace came out with the first big chance of the half. Eze took a quick corner with Jordan Ayew before playing a one-two with Wharton who was stood on the edge of box. The Eagle’s number 10 broke away from Callum Hudson-Odoi racing into the box and looking to find the far corner from a tight angle. His chance flashed across goal to the delight of the hosts.

 

The Reds woke up to this, having a chance of their own down the other end. Morgan Gibbs-White played the ball to Hudson-Odoi down the left after the hosts won the ball back in midfield. Forest’s number 14 cut inside and fired a shot but last season’s loanee, Dean Henderson, parried it away.

 

Forest’s continuous pressure paid off and they found an equaliser just minutes later. Hudson-Odoi played the ball back to substitute Giovanni Reyna whose first time pass found Gibbs-White. He lofted in a perfectly timed ball to Chris Wood who produced an even better finish! He had his back to goal and managed to loop the ball over Henderson to draw the Reds level. This definitely made up for his poor header prior. Wood now has 7 goals in 8 games.

 

Sels was called into action again for Forest, keeping the score level. Eze managed to wriggle away from several challenges as he broke into the box and found Jeffery Schlupp. Fortunately for Eze, the ball bounced back to him and he shot goalwards. Forest’s number one made himself big and the ball was cleared. Up the other end, Hudson-Odoi whipped in a cross from the left which was cleared but only to the feet of Gibbs-White. After a bounce, he took a shot which whizzed over the crossbar.

 

As the 90 minutes drew to a close, the Eagles hit the post from an Eze corner. Daniel Munoz looked to glance his header into the far corner and after sliding off Neco William’s head, it hit the post. On the follow up, ex-Derby man, Will Hughes, fired well over. Injury time bought no real moments and the game ended all-square.

 

If we show the fight we did across the whole game, especially in the second half, we will go onto to pick up more points. I think we reacted very well to going a goal down. Felipe made a mistake leaving Mateta for their goal but made up for it with some good tackles. Our finishing needs to be better too but Woody’s header was incredible. Taiwo will be a miss but Wood seems to be in scoring form recently which is crucial. Callum played well too, managing to beat their full-back multiple times. People were cristising Sangare which I don’t agree with. He may have given the ball away a few times but he always went to try and win the ball back and put in some good tackles as well as pressing their back line. It also doesn’t help him when the stadium cheer when he goes off. Bring on Fulham!

 

Forest: Sels; Williams, Felipe, Murillo, Aina (Toffolo 84'); Yates, Sangare (Elanga 46'); Origi (Reyna 60'), Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood 

 

Crystal Palace: Henderson; Richards, Andersen, Ward; Mitchell (Clyne 90'), Lerma, Wharton (Hughes 80'), Munoz; Eze, Ayew (Schlupp 66'); Mateta