It had been billed as “El Casico”. But after crossing swords with Nottingham Forest at the court of arbitration for sport following Uefa’s decision to demote them from the Europa League, Crystal Palace couldn’t find a way to beat them on the pitch.
Public enemy No 1 in this part of south London after his perceived role in the Cas verdict, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was conspicuous by his absence at Selhurst Park, although a phalanx of beefy security guards accompanied the visiting players when they arrived. A banner that was unveiled midway through the first half made clear the animosity of the Palace fans towards Marinakis.
But having fallen behind to Ismaïla Sarr’s opener, a 57th-minute equaliser from Callum Hudson-Odoi earned a point for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side after a week that has seen the Forest manager at loggerheads with his owner. It would have been some irony if substitute Igor Jesus – who arrived from Botafogo, one of Palace’s former part-owner John Textor’s other clubs in his multi-club network that caused all the problems with Uefa – had scored rather than striking the post in injury time when clean through.
But in their first match since Eberechi Eze’s departure to Arsenal was confirmed, Oliver Glasner will have been left concerned that his side ran out of steam in the second half following their exertions in the Conference League playoff in midweek. New signings are imperative before the window closes.
