Nottingham Forest’s hopes of securing a Champions League spot took a hit after a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday.
Despite dominating stretches of the game, Forest could only come away with a point, with Murillo inadvertently scoring the equaliser after Eberechi Eze’s penalty had put the hosts ahead.
The result leaves Forest sitting sixth in the Premier League standings with 61 points from 35 games, trailing fifth-placed Chelsea by two points as the race for European football intensifies.
Crystal Palace, positioned mid-table, struck first when Eze coolly slotted home from the penalty spot on the hour mark. The spot-kick was awarded following a VAR review after Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels brought down Tyrick Mitchell inside the area.
Eze came close to a second later in the match, rattling the crossbar with a superb effort.
However, Palace’s lead was short-lived. Just four minutes later, a corner clearance fell to Neco Williams outside the box. His shot was deflected into the net by Murillo, who unfortunately picked up a hamstring injury in the process and had to leave the pitch, casting doubt on his availability for the remainder of the campaign.
“It was a game of two halves,” said Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo in a post-match interview with Sky Sports. “First half we controlled the game. Second half we started good but then Palace reacted. It was good for us that we achieved the goal so soon after the [Palace] score. The final games [of the season] are going to be like this, nervous games, tight games. Everybody is fighting for something. It is up to us to react.”
Palace, who haven’t defeated Forest in the top flight since 1991, continue their march towards a possible record Premier League points haul. With 46 points and three matches left, they are within striking distance of their best-ever tally of 49.
“We had quite a few chances at the end,” Eze noted. “I thought we were going to take it, but I think a point, we’ll take it. We’re positive, we know we put in a good performance.”
Palace were quiet for much of the first half, with their first real threat coming in the 35th minute when Daniel Munoz forced a sharp save from Sels with a close-range volley.
The breakthrough came on the hour when VAR confirmed Sels had tripped Mitchell in the box, resulting in a penalty that Eze confidently dispatched, finding the bottom left corner beyond Sels’ reach.
Forest hit back almost immediately as Williams’ strike from outside the area was guided into the net by Murillo’s touch.
Eze nearly stole the show late on with a brilliant 30-yard effort that crashed off the woodwork, and while Eddie Nketiah did find the back of the net, the goal was disallowed for offside.
