Nottingham Forest’s struggles continued as the top-five hopefuls drew Crystal Palace 1-1 at Selhurst Park on Monday.
The draw slips the Tricky Trees to 1W-1D-3L in their last five games, their second such stretch since January.
More importantly, the point stops them from going level on points with fourth-place Newcastle United and fifth-place Chelsea in the race for five Champions League berths.
WATCH — Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest full match replay
Forest’s 61 points are one more than seventh-place Villa with three matches left for all teams. They finish with Leicester City, West Ham, and Chelsea.
Crystal Palace are winless in five Premier League matches, though the last three results are draws with Bournemouth, Arsenal, and Nottingham Forest — not an embarrassment in the bunch.
The Eagles are 12th with 46 points, and are now unlikely to finish in the top half of the Premier League table. Oliver Glasner’s men are six points back of 10th-place Brighton with nine points left to win. They finish with Spurs, Wolves, and Liverpool, and are likely more interested in their upcoming FA Cup scrap with Manchester City.
Forest meet their match
Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace are not far apart when it comes to quality, and the differences between the sides have been minimized down the stretch as the Eagles have gotten healthy. That’s a big compliment for Oliver Glasner’s team, as Palace are likely only outside the European picture due to some signficant long-term injuries earlier this year. Forest’s season has been almost the opposite, and their footing is a bit higher than their underlying numbers possibly because of their healthy season. Forest have 11 players who have played 30 or more Premier League games, and 10 who have more than 2,100 minutes so far this season. Palace lost Adam Wharton for 14 games in the heart of the season, Cheick Doucoure has been out since January, and Chadi Riad played 90 minutes in August before suffering the first of two long-term knee injuries. There aren’t 15 points difference of talent between these sides, and it showed on Monday.
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Forest host Leicester City at 9:15am ET Sunday, the same time that Palace kicks off at Spurs.
The Eagles then have the FA Cup Final on May 17.
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Monday
Venue: Selhurst Park — South London
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest final score: 1-1
Eberechi Eze pen. 60', Murillo 64'
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest live updates
Full time — Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest
More disappointment for Forest, though it should be viewed through a favorable pair of glasses — they were relegation fodder last season.
Eddie Nketiah offside goal!
Eze’s low drive is turned past Sels by Eddie Nketiah, but he the ex-Arsenal striker never re-established himself as onside.
Eight minutes stoppage
Can Forest protect their point, or get two more?
Eze thumps the bar
An 88th-minute golazo winner?
Almost!
Eze clobbers a ball that wobbles as it snaps into the cross bar.
Murillo goal — Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest (64th minute)
Oh, that’s a cute flick!
A Forest corner kick is sent back outside the 18, where Neco Williams slashes the ball toward goal.
Murillo jabs his foot at Williams’ shot and flicks it across goal and inside the far post.
Quick answer and it’s 1-1.
Eberechi Eze penalty — Crystal Palace 1-0 Nottingham Forest (60th minute)
Eberechi Eze goes to the spot. Can Sels redeem himself?
No. Eze’s stuttering run-up is read well by the keeper but has too much power and is buried inside the left post.
Flash point!
Tyrick Mitchell has a brilliant chance to score, as both Nicolas Dominguez and keeper Matz Sels have a role in taking him to the turf.
VAR has quickly sent Andy Madley to the pitchside monitor. This will likely be a penalty, as Mitchell can argue he was one touch from a tap-in.
Oh if Chris Wood knew!
An Aina cross is settled by Wood, who’s between three defenders.
Anthony Elanga is alone if Wood could move it left one more time, but he’s got tunnel vision for goal.
His shot hits the calf of Maxence Lacroix and scoots wide of the far post.
0-0, 51'.
Halftime — Crystal Palace 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Neither team will be happy with the danger they produced in that half, and Forest have to be full of frustration.
Palace were keeping the Tricky Trees on well away from the goal line for the most part until that late Elanga chance.
Elanga’s shot is one of just two on target in the half, Munoz’s back-post effort the other.
Dean Henderson save
Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood combine to set up a chance for Anthony Elanga, but the imperfect offering is stopped by a solid right leg save from Palace keeper Dean Henderson.
Role reversal
It’s Forest in possession but Palace striking off a counter attack.
Matz Sels makes a straight-forward save on Daniel Munoz at the back post, and Daichi Kamada soon mails a chance well over the bar.
0-0, now into the 36th minute.
Not a lot cooking
Forest have a bit more of the ball and Palace have ripped off a couple more shot attempts (6-4), but it’s evenly-matched at the moment.
0-0, 23'.
Crystal Palace lineup
Henderson, Munoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Wharton, Kamada, Sarr, Eze, Mateta
Nottingham Forest lineup
Sels, Aina, Murillo, Milenkovic, Williams, Sangara, Dominguez, Anderson, Elanga, Gibbs-White, Wood
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest preview
Forest have lost three-of-four in the Premier League including home losses to Everton and Brentford, and they still control their top-five destiny with the final day coming against current fifth-place side Chelsea.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Tricky Trees had the same amount of points as the Blues heading into the weekend, with Aston Villa joining the trio on 60 points early Saturday morning. Newcastle have 62 before Sunday’s match vs Brighton, while Man City have played and have 64.
Palace have not won in four Premier League outings but drew their last two prior to last week’s FA Cup semifinal triumph over Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium.
Crystal Palace team news, focus
OUT: Matt Turner (loan - unable to face parent club), Cheick Doucoure (knee), Chadi Riad (knee)
Nottingham Forest team news, focus
QUESTIONABLE: Eric da Silva Moreira (ankle), Ola Aina (calf)
Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest prediction
There’s not much to choose between these two sides, which probably says something about Forest being overachievers this season. Going away from home might present a little less pressure as the Tricky Trees try to keep their surprising season standing tall. Palace’s players are playing for places in the FA Cup final starting lineup and won’t be anonymous. Anything’s possible here, including a split. Palace 2-2 Nottingham Forest.
