Nottingham Forest held a 1-1 draw in Crystal Palace to maintain qualification in the Champions League in his hands despite the loss of more land on the first five.
Forest’s breathtaking season is likely to purge himself, with the team of Nuno Espirito Santo now at two points outside the top five with three games to play, after having collected only four points of their last five championship games.
Palace took the lead after an hour thanks to the penalty of Ebechi Eze after the Var sent Andy Madley to his screen to review the challenge of Nicolas Dominguez on Tyrick Mitchell in the box.
But there was a quick response from the forest while Murillo’s skillful film went into the shot from Neco Williams four minutes later.
It was put in place in Forest to continue a winner, which would have brought them to the points with Chelsea and Newcastle, but it was Palace which most likely seemed whenbe struck the bar and replacing it Eddie Nketiah almost scored.
Forest lost their way after Murillo was forced with an injury to the hamstrings while they were drinking the finish line to stay in the two points of Chelsea’s fifth place, which they faced at home on the last day of a potential decision-maker of the Champions League.
Palace suffered their own injury in the second half, midfielder Adam Wharton took off shortly after their first match, which will be a concern before the FA Cup final against Man City later this month.
The forest has a good chance of returning to the victory on Sunday at home against Leicester already linked, live Sky SportsWith one of the Chelsea or Newcastle guaranteed to drop points when they play the same day.
Nuno is expecting the qualification in the Champions League to descend over the course. “There is no one who doubts, it is certainly to go to the end,” he told Sky Sports after the match. “We have to do our work against Leicester. It will be difficult.”
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The forest always controls their own destiny
The forest was qualification precursors in the Champions League outside the top two in early April, seated in third and 10 points away from the sixth after beating Manchester United 1-0.
But the surprise package of this season, which was not immune to relegation until the last day of the previous campaign, is found in a disturbing race which takes their dream of returning to the prestigious competition in Europe at serious risks after 44 years.
The semi-final of the FA Cup of last month against Man City may have moved from the League, with consecutive defeats against Aston Villa and Everton, and there seems to be a hangover after the deflated nature of this defeat in Wembley.
Forest was not themselves when he was beaten by Brentford on Thursday and, although it was an improvement, he still has trouble finding a form. With three defeats and a draw in their last five championship games, the forest is likely to undo all its hard work.
There is room for optimism, with favorable matches against Leicester already noted and a Ham West in difficulty, before welcoming Chelsea the last day of the season in a match that could become a unique decision -maker for football in the Champions League.
The form of Forest is a concern, but their only victory during this disturbing slide came to Tottenham, who occupies a similar position in the table to the next two opponents of Nuno. On paper, it is six points that they expect to pick up.
Looking at the Run-in of Chelsea and Newcastle, with at least one of them guaranteed points when they play next Sunday, there is a real chance that the forest can be bailed out by the two teams above them.
Forest, of course, should also come back to victory and take care of business in the next two games before taking Chelsea.
Nuno expecting the race for the first five to go to the thread
Boss of the Nottingham Nuno Espirito Santo forest in Sky Sports
“We reacted well to the previous performance and we reacted well from the palace penalty. We scored immediately, it’s positive for us.
“In the first half, we controlled the game. We created and dominated and did not allow Palace to counterattack or have possession.
“The second half was different. It was a good reaction, but in the end, the palace of the talented players caused problems.
“They have a very organized form and with the three players in front, they are dangerous if they have space.
“We have to do our work on the city of the city against Leicester. It will be difficult. There is no one who doubts, [the Champions League race] is sure to go to the end! “”
Eze: We thought we were winning it at the end
Ebelechi Eze de Crystal Palace in Sky Sports:
“I thought it [his late chance off the crossbar] was going. We also had a good chance of winning it.
“We thought we were going to take it at the end, but we will take a point. We are positive, we have put a good performance today.
“We had a little free time [after the FA Cup semi-final]. The boys showed a good character to come back after such a high game. Putting a performance in like this today was important to us.
“The way I take pens is the way I take them. I always practice and learn to improve myself.
“I probably had to put a little more this time. I saw that he was still held when I stopped, so I had to put enough power if it was going to enter.
“Each pen is different.” The guards try different techniques to save it, so I always adapt, I try to learn and understand how to improve the penalty.
“I found what works for me, so I will continue to do it as long as I train.”