IT’S A TAI
Awoniyi levels Colly streak
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.
The Nigeria international’s goals have helped Forest stay up.
And his sixth in this four-game run looked like giving the Reds victory before their old nemesis, former Derby star Will Hughes, popped up with an equaliser.
This was a day of celebration for both clubs as Forest secured safety with a magical win over Arsenal last week, and Palace have the feel-good factor back since Roy Hodgson’s return.
The Eagles wore their new half and half shirt yesterday – and the club shop had nearly sold out on the shirt’s first day of release.
They dominated the opening to this game with Michael Olise shooting wide on the turn.
Fans chanted for the injured
Wilfried Zaha, fearing he will leave Selhurst Park soon.
New England star Eberechi Eze shot just wide from a wellworked Olise free-kick before Jordan Ayew’s curler went wide.
The hosts should have taken the lead as Eze’s shot hit Ayew on the line before Hughes’ rebound shot was denied by former Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey.
Forest took the lead against the run of play on 31 minutes and showed just how dangerous Awoniyi and Morgan Gibbs-White could be next season.
Gibbs-White’s delightful 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 it could have been two but Willy Boly’s header was well kept out by Sam Johnstone. Eze fluffed his lines as he shot over from a free-kick at the start of the second.
But Palace got the equaliser on 66 minutes when Michael Olise crossed for Hughes to head home his first league goal for the club after a deflection. Hodgson then sent on James McArthur and gave him the captain’s armband for his final appearance after nine years with the club. Both sides had chances to seal the win. Sub Emmanuel Dennis shot tamely at Johnstone after another fine Awoniyi run. And Eze so nearly moved into England duty on a high but his powerful shot was saved. Both smiling managers seemed happy with the draw.
C PALACE 1 NOTTM FOREST 1