Nottingham Forest’s dip in form continues, yet their potential qualification for the Champions League surprisingly remains achievable, albeit precariously so.
Just last month, Nuno Espirito Santo`s side sat third in the table, a comfortable 10 points ahead of sixth place, fueling dreams of hosting Europe`s elite at the City Ground.
Eberechi Eze scored the opener from the penalty spot.
Murillo scored Forest`s equalizer.
However, securing only a point away at Crystal Palace last night means they have managed just one victory in their last five Premier League outings. The equalizer came in the 64th minute from a deflected strike by Murillo, cancelling out Eberechi Eze`s penalty, awarded via VAR on the hour mark.
Forest are now sixth, trailing fifth-placed Chelsea and fourth-placed Newcastle by just two points, with three matches left in the season.
A potentially crucial final-day clash against Chelsea means Forest still control their own destiny, provided they win all their remaining games before then, including home against already relegated Leicester and away at West Ham.
Adding another layer of intrigue, Chelsea`s manager, Enzo Maresca, takes his team to St James` Park this weekend.
Despite their current position, Forest must regret letting their commanding lead slip. They largely have only themselves to blame for the nervy situation they now face.
Oliver Glasner`s Crystal Palace side, who have the FA Cup final to look forward to later this month, are now just four points away from achieving their highest-ever points total in the Premier League era. Their performance, particularly from Eze – who recently won £15k in an online chess tournament – was impressive and could have secured them all three points.
But the story of the night was Forest and their apparent knack for hindering their own progress.
Following Thursday`s 2-0 home loss to Brentford, Nuno made tactical adjustments, benching Ryan Yates and giving Ibrahim Sangare, who has struggled with injuries, his first Premier League start since August.
The other personnel change was unavoidable: Callum Hudson-Odoi’s hamstring issues forced Elliot Anderson onto the wing, with Nicolas Dominguez stepping into the lineup.
Palace fielded the same starting eleven that convincingly defeated Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley last month. Selhurst Park did its best to replicate that semi-final atmosphere.
From the outset, Forest’s anxiety seemed to drain their energy and effectiveness. The home crowd and players sensed this fear and hesitation. A barrage of corners put Nuno`s team under immediate and sustained pressure.
The FA Cup finalists played with confidence, perhaps a little too freely at times, exemplified when Tyrick Mitchell`s header from a long ball nearly went into his own net, only for Dean Henderson to make an agile save.
With a potential spot among Europe`s elite on the line, Forest appeared alarmingly flat and uninspired. Palace also had moments lacking intensity, but their upcoming Wembley final offered a plausible reason.
Needing a win to solidify their position, Forest played like a team paralyzed by the fear of losing.
Palace created their first clear chance in the 34th minute, with Sarr connecting with Mitchell’s back-post cross, requiring Matz Sels` first save.
VAR became relevant when Chris Wood went down in the box under contact from Daniel Munoz five minutes before halftime, but a brief review confirmed the referee Andy Madley`s decision not to award a penalty.
Nuno`s halftime team talk could have been entirely different had Anthony Elanga finished off a sharp counter-attack involving Dominguez and Wood, instead of shooting straight at Henderson. It was a classic Forest counter-attacking opportunity wasted.
Nuno, not typically one for dramatic outbursts, needed his team to show fierce determination in the second half to score a goal befitting a Champions League-chasing side.
Wood had another golden opportunity in the 50th minute from another counter, displaying good control in the box, but his shot deflected just wide off Lacroix`s leg.
Nuno reacted with visible frustration, sinking to his knees. It was a pivotal moment, particularly after Sels had made a save from Sarr at the opposite end moments before.
The tension escalated further. Sarr delivered an excellent cross to Mitchell in the six-yard box, where the defender was fouled by both Dominguez and Sels.
Madley initially waved play on, but a VAR check was inevitable. The monitor review confirmed Forest`s concerns; a penalty awarded to Palace, Sels booked, and Eze preparing to take the spot-kick.
Eze`s penalty was struck emphatically, his tenth goal across all competitions this season. His stuttered run-up led to Forest players protesting to Madley, seemingly born more out of desperation than genuine complaint.
Forest responded quickly, and with a significant stroke of luck. Nico Williams` powerful shot from distance deflected off Murillo`s leg and found its way into the net.
In the closing minutes, Palace pressed while Forest retreated to defend their point.
Maxence Lacroix headed narrowly over the bar. Eze curled a shot onto the crossbar from 25 yards, and Eddie Nketiah had a goal disallowed for offside in injury time, all contributing to Nuno`s palpable anxiety.
Matz Sels conceded the penalty from which Palace scored.
Murillo was injured late in the match and had to leave the pitch.
Nuno Espirito Santo`s team requires near-perfect results to qualify for the Champions League.
Oliver Glasner could guide Crystal Palace to their first ever 50-point Premier League season.
Thomas Tuchel observed potential England players.
Forest`s Champions League hopes are still alive, but they truly have zero margin for error now.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, are now just four points shy of breaking their club record of 50 points in a Premier League season.
Marcus Bellamy