Sarr strike earns Palace point in feisty Forest clash

August 24 2025

FA Cup Tifo before the match

Crystal Palace were held to a 1-1 draw by Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park in a stormy encounter that simmered with off-field tension.

Ismaila Sarr gave the Eagles the lead with a sharp finish after 37 minutes, but Callum Hudson-Odoi’s second-half strike earned the visitors a share of the spoils in a game dominated by fan animosity and lingering ill-feeling.

Sarr broke the deadlock after being afforded too much space in the box, clinically dispatching Daniel Munoz’s cross beyond Matz Sels. Marc Guehi almost made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time, but his header hit the near post.

Forest equalised with their first shot on target when Hudson-Odoi raced onto Dan Ndoye’s pass and beat Dean Henderson at his near post.

Omari Hutchinson fired over and Igor Jesus struck the woodwork as the visitors pushed late on, but neither side could force a winner.

The atmosphere was electric, with Palace fans vocal in their anger towards Forest following the summer’s UEFA saga which saw the Londoners demoted from the Europa League. A large Holmesdale End banner and hostile chants made their stance clear.

Eberechi Eze’s absence, following his record move to Arsenal, was keenly felt, and with two goalkeepers named on the bench, the lack of depth in Oliver Glasner’s squad was laid bare.

Despite the draw, Sarr’s performance offered encouragement that he could step into a starring role, while Henderson will be disappointed to concede in front of England boss Thomas Tuchel.

Palace: Henderson, Guéhi, Lacroix, Richards, Mitchell, Hughes, Wharton (Lerma, 82), Muñoz, Devenny (Esse, 66), Mateta (Édouard, 88), Sarr

Forest: Sels, Williams, Murillo, Milenkovic, Aina, Anderson, Sangaré (Yates, 88), Hudson-Odoi (McAtee, 72), Gibbs-White (Hutchinson, 82), Ndoye (Kalimuendo, 71), Wood (Igor Jesus, 88)