Nuno Espirito Santo could be very happy with the way in which his aspect responded of their cagey 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The primary half was tightly contested with either side squandering good possibilities, nevertheless it was Matz Sels who opened the door for Palace, lunging late right into a problem on Tyrick Mitchell contained in the field on the hour mark, with the penalty awarded following a VAR evaluation.
Eberechi Eze coolly slotted house from 12 yards out to offer Palace the lead, although Forest rapidly restored parity when Murillo cleverly turned in Neco Williams’ pushed shot simply 4 minutes later.
Palace pushed laborious for a winner within the dying minutes and Forest have been pressured to dig deep, with Eze crashing a curling shot into the crossbar, whereas Eddie Nketiah noticed a stoppage-time purpose chalked off for offside.
The draw extends Forest’s wonderful report towards Palace. The Difficult Timber have now prevented defeat to Palace of their final 9 league conferences (three wins, six attracts).
Talking to Sky Sports activities, Nuno expressed pleasure on the means his aspect responded, not simply to Palace’s opener however to a string of poor ends in latest weeks.
“We reacted nicely from the earlier efficiency and from the blow we acquired from the penalty of Palace,” he mentioned in a post-match interview.
“We have been accountable for the sport. We created and dominated rather a lot. The second half was completely different, it was a very good response, however Palace created issues.
“They’ve a really organised form, and they’re actually harmful in the event that they preserve the form. It’s essential to not permit too many counter-attacks. We have been constructive nevertheless it’s not simple to play at Selhurst Park.
“We have been a lot improved from final week, particularly once we went behind. It’s crucial, it’s the essential second of the sport to react so rapidly however then the sport turned a bit loopy [with Palace’s late chances].”
Looking forward to Forest’s subsequent match, which sees them host already-relegated Leicester Metropolis, Nuno added: “We now have to do our job on the Metropolis Floor. We play Leicester and it’s going to be powerful. [The race for top five] is for certain going all the way in which.”
An extended journey to South London on a Monday night time.
We can’t thanks sufficient to your implausible assist. pic.twitter.com/9O5iEAXa1A
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) Could 5, 2025
Palace goalscorer Eze, in the meantime, thought the Eagles would discover a option to take all three factors late on, however added that he was proud of their efficiency as nicely.
“I feel we had fairly a couple of possibilities on the finish. I assumed we have been going to take it on the finish, however I feel a degree, we’ll take it,” the England worldwide informed Sky Sports activities.
“We’re constructive, we all know we put in a very good efficiency at present.
“We had fairly a little bit of break day, however I feel the boys have been high at present to come back again.
“It was a high-emotion sport per week in the past [the FA Cup semi-final win against Aston Villa], so to place in a efficiency like this at present was essential for us.”
Certainly, Eze was Palace’s standout participant on the night time. His penalty took him to 22 purpose involvements for the season (10 objectives, 12 assists), matching his best-ever return in a single marketing campaign in 2019-20.
It additionally noticed him grow to be the primary Palace participant to register double figures in each objectives and assists in all competitions in a single season since their return to the Premier League in 2013.