Nottingham Forest’s hopes of securing a Champions League spot took a blow on Monday after a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League.

Despite spending much of the season in the league’s top three, Nuno Espírito Santo’s side has managed just one win in its last four matches. That poor run of form has seen them slip behind rivals Chelsea, Newcastle, and a resurgent Manchester City in the standings.

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A victory over Palace would have brought Forest level on points with Chelsea and Newcastle, but settling for a draw leaves them in sixth place — just outside the top five, which secures qualification for next season’s Champions League.

The game itself was scrappy at times, with eight players booked in a match that lacked rhythm and clear control from either side.

Crystal Palace broke the deadlock just past the hour mark. After a VAR review, goalkeeper Matz Sels was ruled to have brought down Tyrick Mitchell in the box, and Eberechi Eze calmly converted the resulting penalty.

Forest responded swiftly, equalizing within four minutes when Murillo managed to deflect Neco Williams’ shot past the Palace keeper.

Palace came close to reclaiming the lead late on, with Eze striking the post in the final moments and Eddie Nketiah seeing a stoppage-time goal ruled out for offside. The result extends Palace’s winless run in the league to five matches.

“We were a bit unlucky at times — hitting the post, the offside decision — but the players showed great spirit,” said Palace head coach Oliver Glasner. “Creating so many chances against a side like Forest isn’t easy, so I’m really happy with how we played.”