Glasner has to settle for a point against Forest as Palace adapt to life without Eze

Crystal Palace v Nottingham Forest pic by @JTaylorSport

Crystal Palace 1 Nottingham Forest 1

'Built From Glass - Etched In Silver'

The message from the Selhurst Park stand was both highly impressive and full of gravitas.

As Crystal Palace still bathe in the warmth of last season's epic FA Cup win, the club's first major honour, supporters retain high hopes for 2025/26, despite uncertainty over the current squad. With Ebere Eze finally leaving, Arsenal last week, the Eagles lacked verve against Nottingham Forest and a point was fair in the aftermath of a 1-1 draw.

This was also, as it transpired, a grudge match between Palace - who qualified for the Europa League but have for administrative failings been cashiered into the Conference League, against Forest, who qualified for the Conference League but has taken the Europa League place of the team that qualified for the Europa League. So that all makes sense, then.

As is so often the case in the build up to what had been billed 'el Casico', this encounter failed to rouse the spirits.

The Londoners went into the game having never won in 10 previous Premier League meetings with Forest. But they could not retain their lead, after Ismaila Sarr scored in the first half, the visitors responding through ex-Chelsea striker Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Palace boss Oliver Glasner noted ahead of a clash, amid sun-drenched conditions in south London that he was confident his team of FA Cup winners can still carve out results, despite the departure of Eze, and a fresh influx of around £60m for the winger. "The point is absolutely okay", said Glasner of this humdrum draw.

After Jean-Philippe Mateta saw a powerful shot well saved by Forest keeper Matz Sels, the hosts went in front in the 37th minute. A well-worked goal, culminating in an unmarked Sarr turning home a cross from the right by Daniel Munoz. Simplicity itself.

A couple of minutes later, and Palace clearly buoyed, Will Hughes rifled a volley inches past the post - an effort worthy of a goal for the terrific technique alone. Frankly, there was little of the same to follow.

Marc Guehi - subject of intense transfer speculation and another potential exit and headache for Glasner - headed against the base of the Forest post on the stroke of half time. It was as close as the Eagles came to adding to their lead, before they were eventually punished.

Forest rarely threatened - but when they did go forward, it was with lazer-precision. And they levelled in 57 minutes.

From a rangy pass by Dan Ndoye which caught out Tyrick Mitchell, Hudson-Odoi outpaced the defender before expertly firing past Eagles' keeper Dean Henderson. A superb strike.

The equaliser boosted the Forest spirits, and they looked more comfortable on the ball going forward as the Eagles began to run of of both ideas and steam. Visiting substitute Igor Jesus should have done better than crash the ball against the upright in added time, so from that perspective Glasner's side had a fortunate escape.

All things considered, both teams can have few complaints about the outcome. For Crystal Palace it is a reasonable point as they come to terms with what should be a compressed window of transfer activity. Glasner has a thin squad and there could be up to four new arrivals in the coming days.

“We know that we can play better football than we did in some parts, especially in the second-half," admitted Glasner. "But we know we will do this.

“It looked like the legs were getting a little bit fatigued, with many players who’d played every single minute [this season]. But the players are dealing well with it and being unbeaten. I also think the draw was a fair result today.

“What we can influence is our performance, what we want to do on the pitch. Today, especially in the second-half, we lost the balls too easily in our attack. That means the pressure increased from Nottingham."