Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest: Eberechi Eze scores as Eagles get ready to peak in FA Cup final | OneFootball

Glasner will be content with his side’s performance against a team chasing Champions League qualification

Crystal Palace had their chances and could have nicked it late on, but a 1-1 draw against Champions League hopefuls Nottingham Forest is no disaster and kept the Eagles in sturdy form as their FA Cup final edges ever closer.

Palace know their season comes down to their second big day out at Wembley in 12 days time and all the bells and whistles that could well be attached: a chance for major silverware and Europa League football.

Though Forest did not create chances at will, Dean Henderson was required to make a handful of significant interventions against his former employers.

One such moment prevented what would have been a calamitous own goal, as Tyrick Mitchell’s header back to Henderson threatened to bounce beyond the goalkeeper, only for a last-minute readjustment to produce a fine block from his right leg.

While Chelsea and Manchester City have strengthened their cases for Champions League football next season with strong form, Forest have faltered of late and will have been desperate for victory here. But Palace found some joy up against that usually watertight defence, Daniel Munoz so nearly putting them ahead with a flying volley as he arrived late. Matz Sels saved well.

Then it was Henderson’s turn, with the Englishman equal to Anthony Elanga’s effort on a breakaway late in the first half. That save drew a very enthusiastic slapped high-five from Maxence Lacroix, impressed by his goalkeeper’s reflexes.

The match livened up shortly after the break, and either side could have broken the deadlock as opportunities flashed by at one end and then the other. Sels blocked Ismaila Sarr’s strike from close range, and then Nuno Espirito Santo’s men darted up the other end. It took a superb block from Lacroix to deny Chris Wood the opener.

Palace’s lead came from a spot-kick in the 60th minute, awarded once referee Andy Madley had taken a jog over to the pitchside monitor to confirm Mitchell had indeed been clipped by Sels, who was booked.

Eze began, then checked his run, and thumped home for his third goal in as many games. What a blessing it is for Palace ahead of the FA Cup final in a fortnight’s time that he is bang in form.

The Eagles led for just four short minutes, though — chants from the home end of “Champions League, you’re having a laugh” ageing about as well as cow’s milk. Neco Williams’s limp shot received a helpful deflection from Murillo’s outstretched leg. That wrongfooted Henderson and Forest were level.

A delicately-poised contest tilted slightly in favour of the hosts in the final stages, and Lacroix will not know how he failed to convert a header from so close in after good work by Marc Guehi and Eddie Nketiah to manufacture the chance.

If anyone was going to provide Selhurst Park with a grandstand finish, it was going to be Eze, who was the best player for either team. From the left flank, he cut onto his right foot and unleashed a venomous shot which crashed against the crossbar, collapsing to his knees when he saw it had not nestled in the top corner.

And then he went even closer again in stoppage time, as his low effort was directed into the net by substitute Nketiah — but from an offside position. No goal, but no harm done; Palace made to settle for a point.