Match ends, Crystal Palace 1, Nottingham Forest 1.
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.
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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
Crystal Palace
Avg
- Squad number18Player nameMcArthurAverage rating
7.51
- Squad number10Player nameEzeAverage rating
7.10
- Squad number14Player nameMatetaAverage rating
6.76
- Squad number44Player nameRiedewaldAverage rating
6.71
- Squad number19Player nameHughesAverage rating
6.69
- Squad number29Player nameAhamadaAverage rating
6.67
- Squad number22Player nameÉdouardAverage rating
6.50
- Squad number9Player nameJ AyewAverage rating
6.41
- Squad number6Player nameGuéhiAverage rating
6.35
- Squad number7Player nameOliseAverage rating
6.31
- Squad number16Player nameAndersenAverage rating
6.26
- Squad number28Player nameDoucouréAverage rating
6.19
- Squad number2Player nameWardAverage rating
6.17
- Squad number3Player nameMitchellAverage rating
6.03
- Squad number21Player nameJohnstoneAverage rating
5.81
Nottingham Forest
Avg
- Squad number9Player nameAwoniyiAverage rating
8.25
- Squad number10Player nameGibbs-WhiteAverage rating
8.05
- Squad number20Player nameJohnsonAverage rating
8.00
- Squad number19Player nameNiakhatéAverage rating
7.73
- Squad number4Player nameWorrallAverage rating
7.60
- Squad number22Player nameYatesAverage rating
7.60
- Squad number32Player nameRenan LodiAverage rating
7.58
- Squad number24Player nameAurierAverage rating
7.56
- Squad number5Player nameMangalaAverage rating
7.52
- Squad number13Player nameHennesseyAverage rating
7.49
- Squad number30Player nameBolyAverage rating
7.44
- Squad number21Player nameKouyatéAverage rating
7.33
- Squad number16Player nameSurridgeAverage rating
6.79
- Squad number15Player nameToffoloAverage rating
6.71
- Squad number25Player nameDennisAverage rating
6.44
- Squad number34Player nameA AyewAverage 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
- Possession
- Home66%
- Away34%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 1, Nottingham Forest 1.
Post update
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Sèrge Aurier (Nottingham Forest).
Post update
Foul by Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace).
Post update
Moussa Niakhaté (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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.
Post update
Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest).
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jairo Riedewald replaces Will Hughes.
Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Naouirou Ahamada replaces Michael Olise.
Substitution
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Sam Surridge replaces Taiwo Awoniyi.
Substitution
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. André Ayew replaces Morgan Gibbs-White.
Post update
Foul by Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace).
Post update
Cheikhou Kouyaté (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace) header from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Michael Olise with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Joe Worrall.
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.
Post update
Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Cheikhou Kouyaté (Nottingham Forest).
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Comments
Join the conversation
However, thought there was a good atmosphere throughout the game. Forest had the better first half and we had the better second half. In truth, a draw was fair result.
Think both sets of supporters relieved they were not involved in the relegation battle!
It's been a pretty epic season as a Forest fan. Staying up, Leicester relegated and Derby failing to get promoted.
WORK WORK WORK and TROPHIES
From olympiacos supporters
Total waste of Forest money.
Hopefully not still there next season.
😁😁😁
North of Chelsea👍
Turns out we still would have survived even if Arsenal had beaten us last weekend
Been a stressful season at times…but gutted it’s over
Roll on next season