OLIVER Glasner was left with “mixed feelings” after Crystal Palace came from a goal down against Nottingham Forest but couldn’t turn their numerical advantage on the pitch in the second half into three points at the City Ground.
Sean Dyche’s side took the lead in the fifth minute when Morgan Gibbs-White chested the ball down in a congested area before finishing past Dean Henderson.
The Eagles levelled after Forest defender Neco Williams was given a straight red card for stopping Jefferson Lerma’s goal-bound header with his hand. Ismailia Sarr beat goalkeeper Matz Sels from the penalty spot two minutes into first-half added-time.
Despite being a man down, the Tricky Trees pressed for a winner and had chances through Gibbs-White and Ola Aina.
Palace, meanwhile, couldn’t test Angus Gunn, who had replaced the injured Sels at half-time.
The result halted Palace’s run of three consecutive defeats but they still haven’t won in games games in all competitions.
“I have mixed feelings,” Glasner said. “Even before the goal we created two big chances, so credit to the players because we played really well in the first half.
“We deserved the equaliser. Everyone wanted to take responsibility in the second half but we took wrong decisions. But I don’t want to blame anybody, the reason for this is our psychological situation.
“How I have seen us playing, particularly in the first half, gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season.
“I love this group because they deal with the situation. They never lost their focus.
“We wanted it, but perhaps we wanted it too much, and we lost a little bit of structure.
“We did create, we had three or four great crosses, but no one was on the end of them.”
Palace got a boost after a difficult month when they sold captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City and speculation over Jean-Philippe Mateta – who saw a proposed deadline-day move to AC Milan called off – as Chadi Riad made his first league start since August 2024 after recovering from an ACL injury.
“He’s such a fantastic guy,” Glasner said. “It’s not just one year, but almost one-and-a-half years without him. He was always positive and so hard-working.
“I ruptured my ACL as well and it usually takes you as long as you are injured to be in the same shape again, but I’m sure Chadi will be there sooner.
“He did well in a few situations. It’s good to have him back.”
Goalkeeper Henderson said all the off-pitch difficulties – including Glasner confirming he would leave at the end of this season – had not affected the squad’s morale.
“We had a great first half,” Henderson said. “We were the better team and created some good situations.
“The sending-off gives you great momentum but it was disappointing that we couldn’t find a way through.
“We had it a couple of times last season when [the opposition] sit and it’s attack versus defence. Sit in and don’t give [anything] away, they did that well.
“I thought the lads did really well. They pushed to the last and it’s important we have the lads in the dressing room that keep showing up for the badge.
“It [off-pitch distractions] comes with professional football.
“We’ve got a lot of experience and we have to deal with it. We can build on this point.”
Palace face Brighton & Hove Albion at the American Express Stadium on Sunday (2pm).
