TAI ON GOLD STAN-DARD
Awoniyi matches Collymore scoring feat
TAIWO AWONIYI became the first Nottingham Forest player to score in four consecutive top-flight games since Stan Collymore in 1995.
But it was not enough to earn Steve Cooper’s men only a second Premier League away win of the season.
Nigerian international Awoniyi’s sixth goal in this four-game sequence looked like giving the Reds victory before their old nemesis, former Derby star Will Hughes, popped up with an equaliser.
Forest had secured safety with a magical win over Arsenal last week while Palace have had the feel-good back since Roy Hodgson’s return.
The former England manager’s short-term contract at Selhurst Park is now up but he gave no clues about his future.
“I haven’t made a decision about my future at all, neither here nor anywhere else,” he said.
“The only decision I have made is to keep very quiet when people try to get me to say whether this is my last game and you’ll never see me in football again.”
The Eagles dominated the opening to this game with Michael Olise shooting wide on the turn.
New England star Ebere Eze shot just wide from a well-worked Olise free-kick before Jordan Ayew’s curler went just wide.
Hodgson’s men really should have taken the lead as Eze’s shot hit his own man Ayew on the line before Hughes was denied by ex-Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey on the rebound.
But Forest did just that on 31 minutes with an opener that showed just how dangerous both Morgan GibbsWhite and Awoniyi could be next season.
Gibbs-White’s through ball with the outside of his foot set up Awoniyi who took his time before finishing well for an overall 11th of the campaign.
Moments later and it could have been two for the visitors as Willy Boly’s header from Gibbs-White’s cross was kept out by Sam Johnstone. Palace could have levelled with Odsonne Edouard heading wide from a good position following Olise’s free-kick.
But the hosts got the equaliser on 66 minutes as OIise crossed for Hughes (celebrating, below) to head his first Premier League goal for the club with the aid of a deflection.
Hodgson then sent on James McArthur and gave him the captain’s armband for his final appearance after nine years at club. Both sides had their moments to find a winner.
Sub Emmanuel Dennis shot tamely at Johnstone after another fine Awoniyi run. And Eze so nearly moved into England duty on a high when his powerful shot was saved.
But a draw was a fair result as both managers finished with smiles on their face.
Forest boss Steve Cooper said: “I’m full of admiration for Roy and it’s a privilege to come up against him.
“It was important to give our supporters a result here.”