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Crystal Palace 1-1 Nottingham Forest: Taiwo Awoniyi scored again in draw at Selhurst Park

By Sam DruryBBC Sport
Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's first goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park on May 28, 2023 in London, England.
Taiwo Awoniyi put Nottingham Forest ahead with his sixth goal in four games

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi continued his excellent late-season form with the opening goal in a final-day draw at Crystal Palace.

With Forest having secured their Premier League status last weekend and Palace long since safe, there was a celebratory atmosphere at Selhurst Park before kick-off.

Awoniyi kept the away fans in good spirits when he raced on to Morgan Gibbs-White's superb through ball, twisted and turned before firing into the bottom corner on 31 minutes.

It came just a minute after Eberechi Eze had seen his close-range effort blocked on the line by team-mate Jordan Ayew at the other end.

Palace were on top for much of the second half and found the equaliser after 66 minutes, when Will Hughes headed in from Michael Olise's cross.

Neither side was able to find a winner and both can begin their plans for next season in earnest, although for Palace it remains to be seen whether that will be with Roy Hodgson at the helm.

Another Hodgson farewell?

Hodgson returned to Palace with the team having gone 13 games without a win. In the 10 games since, the Eagles have won five and drawn three to not only take them well clear of the relegation scrap but also above Chelsea to finish 11th.

While the fixtures may have been friendlier than those Patrick Vieira had to negotiate before his dismissal, it has been an impressive turnaround under the former England boss, with performances as well as results much improved and Eze one of a number of exciting young players reinvigorated since the change of manager.

"My situation is very simple: I took on a job, I was pleased to take on the job," Hodgson told BBC Match of the Day.

"The mandate was a simple one - to come in and help the team to get the number of points we need to stay in the league. That's what I've done and what I've enjoyed doing."

Hodgson's contract is up at the end of the season and the 75-year-old has given no indication as to whether he wants to stay should he be offered the chance.

Asked whether he would like to, Hodgson added: "I'm not prepared to make any comment like that. Before I start talking about whether I want to stay anywhere or take on any jobs, someone better offer me one."

But there was no obvious goodbye to the fans at the final whistle and it would be no great shock if Palace started the 2023-24 season with Hodgson in the dugout.

Forest fans party as Awoniyi reaches double figures

After beating Arsenal to guarantee their safety last weekend, the Forest fans were understandably in the mood to celebrate.

Some fans wore masks with the face of manager Steve Cooper, who brought them up and has now kept them in the top flight.

As important as Cooper in the past few weeks have been the goals of Awoniyi. The 25-year-old striker has scored six in his past four games and is the first Forest player to score in four straight Premier League games since Stan Collymore in 1995.

"You always want your number nine scoring goals," Cooper told Match of the Day. "I've said before that we missed him a lot when he got injured and he missed three months. He was doing well just before that and so to get him back in the form he has shown has been excellent."

His goal at Palace was also his 10th of the campaign and both he and Forest will hope there are plenty more to come next season.

Player of the match

AwoniyiTaiwo Awoniyi

with an average of 8.25

Crystal Palace

  1. Squad number18Player nameMcArthur
    Average rating

    7.51

  2. Squad number10Player nameEze
    Average rating

    7.10

  3. Squad number14Player nameMateta
    Average rating

    6.76

  4. Squad number44Player nameRiedewald
    Average rating

    6.71

  5. Squad number19Player nameHughes
    Average rating

    6.69

  6. Squad number29Player nameAhamada
    Average rating

    6.67

  7. Squad number22Player nameÉdouard
    Average rating

    6.50

  8. Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
    Average rating

    6.41

  9. Squad number6Player nameGuéhi
    Average rating

    6.35

  10. Squad number7Player nameOlise
    Average rating

    6.31

  11. Squad number16Player nameAndersen
    Average rating

    6.26

  12. Squad number28Player nameDoucouré
    Average rating

    6.19

  13. Squad number2Player nameWard
    Average rating

    6.17

  14. Squad number3Player nameMitchell
    Average rating

    6.03

  15. Squad number21Player nameJohnstone
    Average rating

    5.81

Nottingham Forest

  1. Squad number9Player nameAwoniyi
    Average rating

    8.25

  2. Squad number10Player nameGibbs-White
    Average rating

    8.05

  3. Squad number20Player nameJohnson
    Average rating

    8.00

  4. Squad number19Player nameNiakhaté
    Average rating

    7.73

  5. Squad number4Player nameWorrall
    Average rating

    7.60

  6. Squad number22Player nameYates
    Average rating

    7.60

  7. Squad number32Player nameRenan Lodi
    Average rating

    7.58

  8. Squad number24Player nameAurier
    Average rating

    7.56

  9. Squad number5Player nameMangala
    Average rating

    7.52

  10. Squad number13Player nameHennessey
    Average rating

    7.49

  11. Squad number30Player nameBoly
    Average rating

    7.44

  12. Squad number21Player nameKouyaté
    Average rating

    7.33

  13. Squad number16Player nameSurridge
    Average rating

    6.79

  14. Squad number15Player nameToffolo
    Average rating

    6.71

  15. Squad number25Player nameDennis
    Average rating

    6.44

  16. Squad number34Player nameA Ayew
    Average rating

    5.98

Line-ups

Crystal Palace

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 21Johnstone
  • 2Ward
  • 16Andersen
  • 6Guéhi
  • 3Mitchell
  • 28DoucouréSubstituted forMcArthurat 67'minutes
  • 19HughesSubstituted forRiedewaldat 90'minutes
  • 7OliseSubstituted forAhamadaat 90'minutes
  • 10Eze
  • 9J Ayew
  • 22ÉdouardSubstituted forMatetaat 67'minutes

Substitutes

  • 8Sambi Lokonga
  • 14Mateta
  • 17Clyne
  • 18McArthur
  • 26Richards
  • 29Ahamada
  • 38Adaramola
  • 41Whitworth
  • 44Riedewald

Nottm Forest

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 13Hennessey
  • 4Worrall
  • 30BolySubstituted forDennisat 72'minutes
  • 19Niakhaté
  • 24Aurier
  • 22YatesBooked at 80mins
  • 5MangalaSubstituted forKouyatéat 72'minutes
  • 32LodiSubstituted forToffoloat 45'minutes
  • 20Johnson
  • 10Gibbs-WhiteBooked at 43minsSubstituted forA Ayewat 89'minutes
  • 9AwoniyiSubstituted forSurridgeat 89'minutes

Substitutes

  • 11Lingard
  • 15Toffolo
  • 16Surridge
  • 17Mighten
  • 21Kouyaté
  • 23Freuler
  • 25Dennis
  • 34A Ayew
  • 43Shelvey
Referee:
Thomas Bramall
Attendance:
25,198

Match Stats

Home TeamCrystal PalaceAway TeamNottm Forest
Possession
Home66%
Away34%
Shots
Home15
Away7
Shots on Target
Home3
Away4
Corners
Home5
Away4
Fouls
Home9
Away13

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Crystal Palace 1, Nottingham Forest 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 1, Nottingham Forest 1.

  3. Post update

    Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Sèrge Aurier (Nottingham Forest).

  5. Post update

    Foul by Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace).

  6. Post update

    Moussa Niakhaté (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Attempt saved. Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Joachim Andersen with a through ball.

  8. Post update

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest).

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jairo Riedewald replaces Will Hughes.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Crystal Palace. Naouirou Ahamada replaces Michael Olise.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Sam Surridge replaces Taiwo Awoniyi.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Nottingham Forest. André Ayew replaces Morgan Gibbs-White.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace).

  15. Post update

    Cheikhou Kouyaté (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Michael Olise with a cross.

  17. Post update

    Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Joe Worrall.

  18. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Michael Olise.

  19. Post update

    Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  20. Post update

    Foul by Cheikhou Kouyaté (Nottingham Forest).

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