Nuno Espirito Santo delivers a mysterious message to Nottingham Forest after a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.
Following Nottingham Forest’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, Nuno Espirito Santo has urged his players to continue their progress as they climbed out of the relegation zone.
Chris Wood’s equalizer in the 61st minute nullified Jean-Philippe Mateta’s early goal for Palace, leveling Forest with Luton on goal difference.
This match marked Forest’s first outing since the Premier League penalized them four points for breaching financial regulations, pushing them into the bottom three.
While Forest struggled to find momentum in the first half, Palace failed to capitalize on Mateta’s early strike, much to the disappointment of manager Oliver Glasner. In the final 20 minutes, both teams had opportunities to secure the win.
“I believe we performed well enough in the game to secure a different outcome, but it didn’t start well for us,” Nuno remarked. “When you anticipate a positive start and concede early, it unsettles the team, which wasn’t ideal.”
“However, overall, I think we displayed dominance and control. We had our good moments. The second half showcased improvement – increased pace and aggression.”
“Playing against Crystal Palace isn’t easy due to their tactical setup – it limits spaces and opportunities. Once again, the team exhibited resilience. Moving out of the relegation zone, we aim to capitalize on this momentum for the upcoming matches as we strive to climb up the table.”
Forest has launched an appeal against their punishment, and before the game, fans at the Trent End unfurled a banner reading ‘We shall fight and we shall overcome.’ Despite falling behind, tension mounted in the stands, dissipating only when Forest found their rhythm in the second half.
“The relegation battle is intense,” Nuno observed. “Several teams remain entangled in it. Our focus must remain on ourselves. While this point is valuable, it’s imperative that we secure a positive result against Fulham.”
Palace appeared poised to exploit Forest’s situation, with Mateta scoring their first genuine opportunity, and Eberechi Eze squandering chances before halftime. Despite hitting the post in the 87th minute, Palace couldn’t secure the win that would have virtually ensured their safety.
“It feels like we dropped two points,” Glasner admitted. “We created enough chances, particularly from set-pieces, but failed to capitalize.”
“We faced pressure at times, and Forest possesses quality in front of goal. We must acknowledge that a point away from home in the Premier League is commendable, even if we aimed for more.”
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