Point For Palace At Forest On Return To Action

In the final game against relegation candidates, the Eagles returned to Premier League duty by take a point from a struggling Nottingham Forest side which would well have been so much more.

MATCH INFORMATION

• 3pm – 30th March 2024
• Nottingham Forest 1-1 Crystal Palace
• City Ground, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 5FJ

PLAYER RATINGS

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 5 James TOMKINS, 29 Naouirou AHAMADA, 31 Remi MATTHEWS, 52 David OZOH, 55 Franco UMEH-CHIBUEZE, 61 Roshaun MATHURIN

OPPOSITION LINE-UP

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 1 Matt TURNER, 16 Nicolas DOMINGUEZ, 28 DANILO, 29 Gonzalo MONTIEL, 32 Andrew OMOBAMIDELE, 37 Rodrigo RIBEIRO

TEB VERDICT

We are at the stage of the season where it is important to ensure that teams remain at arm’s length rather than the actual performances, and while Oliver Glasner’s men could probably have taken more from this game, it was important not to be beaten at the City Ground.

The Austrian has only witnessed one defeat as boss of the Eagles since taking charge and without some star names missing from the starting line-up. With those names slowly but surely returning in the coming weeks, that will give the likes of Eze, Wharton and Munoz some much needed support.

Eze once again starred alongside the hard-working Mateta as they worked together to see the Frenchman net his ninth goal of the season, and not many fans predicted that the striker would be close to hitting double figures this season.

The news of Sam Johnstone needing an operation after returning early from England was a real blow for Palace, but that saw Dean Henderson return to the starting line-up. He has been a target for fans since joining the club and his part in the Forest goal will only increase that but he will now get a run in the side and perhaps that is what he needs.

POST GAME QUOTES

OLIVER GLASNER

“At the moment it feels like we lost two points. I was told a point away in the Premier League is a good point so we respect a point here in Nottingham because they are in very good shape, especially at home.

We took the lead and had three or four very good chances but we didn’t decide the game. There were moments in the game where we were under pressure and in this phase they scored.

At this point they deserved 1-1 but at the end I had the feeling we were close to the second, we hit the post after a brilliant corner. Maybe a little bit disappointed but overall the point is okay.”

NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO

“We wanted another result, in these games at home we expect more, we wanted more. The game started badly so the reaction was a positive but, at the same time, I think we did enough. We were more dominant, we controlled the game.

It’s difficult to play Palace, they reduce the spaces and rely on the counter-attack and have quality players. It was a tough situation to manage trying to go for the game at the same time.

We showed character, the City Ground was there for us again and we get a point. We wanted three, we get one but it is one that has to be valuable.”

MATCH STATISTICS

POSITION IN THE TABLE (at the final whistle)

UPCOMING FIXTURES

02/04/24 Bournemouth (a) – Premier League 7.45pm

06/04/24 Manchester City (h) – Premier League 12.30pm

14/04/24 Liverpool (a) – Premier League 2pm