Nottingham Forest’s Awoniyi continues hot streak but Crystal Palace earn draw

Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest rounded off their respective seasons with a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park. A sixth goal in four games from Taiwo Awoniyi for the visitors was cancelled out with an equaliser from Will Hughes after the interval.

Forest made three changes from their heroic efforts against Arsenal that secured their survival last week. The former Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, Willy Boly and Brennan Johnson came in.

The hosts, unchanged from their draw at Fulham, had the first chance when Michael Olise brought a decent save from Hennessey after a fine solo run in the fourth minute.

Eberechi Eze almost marked his England call-up with a goal in the 17th minute, after an Olise free-kick was squared to him but his effort went narrowly past a post.

Palace had the bulk of possession and Forest were offering little up front, but they soaked up the pressure and took the lead in an amazing 60-second spell. They were almost undone on the half-hour when a shot by Eze was blocked by Jordan Ayew, with Hennessey turning away a Hughes shot on the rebound.

A long ball out of the Forest half shortly afterwards by Morgan Gibbs-White found Awoniyi, who powered into the area. After getting the better of Joachim Andersen, he followed his goal against Arsenal last week with an effort into the bottom corner.

Odsonne Édouard should have done better with an Olise free-kick after 38 minutes when he put his header wide after finding space in the area.

With Harry Toffolo replacing Renan Lodi for the visitors at the interval, Palace pushed for an early equaliser. A Cheick Doucouré effort in the 52nd minute was drilled over the crossbar, while a free-kick on the edge of the area three minutes later was put over by Eze.

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