EPL: Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest Ends in a Thrilling 1-1 Draw

Nottingham Forest's Champions League aspirations take a hit after a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace. Find out what this means for their qualification hopes.

Nottingham Forest's Champions League aspirations took a hit after being held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. This result means Forest have now won just one of their last five league games. With top-five rivals Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Chelsea all securing wins, Forest's match against Palace was a crucial one, and the draw leaves them outside the top five.

Nottingham Forest started the crucial match against Crystal Palace slowly but gained momentum as the game progressed. A Palace defensive mix-up nearly gifted Forest a stroke of luck when Tyrick Mitchell's headed back pass almost slipped past Dean Henderson. However, Mitchell later played a key role in creating the game's first notable chance with a deep cross that Daniel Munoz volleyed, only for Matz Sels to make a save. Forest then created an even bigger opportunity before halftime, showcasing their attacking prowess.

Forest's trademark counter-attack nearly paid off just after the restart, with Chris Wood setting up Anthony Elanga, but the youngster's finish wasn't up to the mark, forcing a fine save from Dean Henderson. 

Two goals in the space of four minutes see the points shared at Selhurst Park 🤝#CRYNFO pic.twitter.com/eqCSewuOhN

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The match then burst into life over a frantic 14-second spell in the second half. First, Ismaila Sarr was denied a goal from point-blank range by Matz Sels after wriggling free in the area. Just 14 seconds later, Chris Wood had a chance to become the first Forest player to score 10+ Premier League away goals in a season, but Maxence Lacroix made a crucial block.

VAR played its part in the match, as it often does, awarding a penalty to Crystal Palace shortly before the hour mark after Matz Sels fouled Tyrick Mitchell in the area. Eberechi Eze confidently scored the penalty, his third successive game with a goal. 

However, the penalty seemed to galvanize Forest, as they responded swiftly. Murillo's outstretched leg inadvertently deflected Neco Williams' strike into the far corner, leveling the score.

The form and fixtures for the teams chasing the Champions League places 🍿

Who do you think misses out on a top five place? pic.twitter.com/FQctiQyB7r

— Premier League (@premierleague) May 5, 2025

Both teams had limited opportunities to secure a win, though Eberechi Eze hit the crossbar late in the match. In stoppage time, Eddie Nketiah's goal was ruled out for offside, a significant reprieve for Forest. Despite this, a point might have been a fair reflection of Forest's performance. 

The result leaves them two points outside the top five, despite spending much of the season in third place. For Palace, the draw likely means a ninth-place finish, continuing their trend of mid-table positions, with their tenth season also yielding a bottom-half finish in nine of the last ten campaigns.