October 28 2008

Shefki Kuqi

Crystal Palace were defeated 2-1 at home to bottom club Nottingham Forest.

Forest picked up just their second league win of the season to move off the foot of the table with a late winner.

Half-time sub Shefki Kuqi continued his fine scoring run to cancel out Chris Cohen's opener but Matt Thornhill won the game for the visitors.

Eagles manager Neil Warnock handed young left-back Rhoys Wiggins his first team debut in place of Clint Hill.

Forest belied their position as the Championship's basement boys by dominating the early stages at Selhurst Park.

Welsh forward Robert Earnshaw fired a second minute shot that needed Julian Speroni to expertly palm over the bar.

Victor Moses slashed an effort over from Matt Lawrence's pass but Forest went ahead in the 28th minute through Chris Cohen.

Moses gave away a free-kick on the right after a foul on Joe Garner and Cohen arrowed it into the top corner.

Seven minutes before half-time, Earnshaw could have increased his side's margin but he fluffed his shot when through on goal.

Kuqi netted his third goal of the season in the 75th minute after chesting down on the edge of the box before driving a low shot into the corner.

But Forest went home with the victory as Thornhill bundled in a scrambled effort in the 81st minute.

Palace: Speroni, Butterfield (Ertl 80), Lawrence, McCarthy, Wiggins, Watson, Derry, Carle (Djilali 67), Ifill, Moses, Beattie (Kuqi 46).

Not Used: Scannell, Oster.

Forest: Camp, Chambers, Morgan, Breckin, Lynch, McCleary (Davies 86), Perch, McGugan, Cohen, Earnshaw (Tyson 62), Garner Thornhill 73).

Not Used: Smith, Martin.

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