DEAN HENDERSON dropped a clanger in front of watching England caretaker boss Lee Carsley – eight days after Thomas Tuchel’s stand-in awarded him his England return!
Former Forest loanee Hendo was on top of the world when he flew his family to Finland to see him end his long wait for a senior England cap in the Three Lions’ 3-1 win.
But tonight his world fell apart here as he allowed Chris Wood‘s half-hit volley to squirm under him to cost Palace a crucial draw which kept Oliver Glasner’s strugglers in the drop zone.
Wood couldn’t believe his luck as he bagged his fifth goal in eight games this season to become Forest’s third player to score 20 Premier League goals, alongside Bryan Roy and Stan Collymore.
And to rub salt in Henderson’s wounds Forest keeper Matz Sels surpassed himself with a string of top saves, and denied sub Jeffrey Schlupp a late leveller with a brilliant one-handed save.
It was a positive end to a tough week for the Prem’s current whipping boys.
Forest’s naughty step was certainly groaning after the FA stepped in to punish their bad boys.
Boss Nuno Espirito Santo was banished to an executive box as he started a three-match ban for his misconduct in his side’s 2-2 draw with Brighton last month.
Morgan Gibbs-White was injured anyway but also served a further one-match ban following his red card against the Seagulls – as well as copping a £20,000 fine.
Meanwhile, James Ward-Prowse was suspended following his red card at Chelsea last time out.
Even Forest’s larger-than-life owner Evangelos Marinakis was subject to a whopping five-match ban – which he is appealing – for “improper behaviour,” around the tunnel area at full-time against Fulham on September 28.
The Greek tycoon decided not to pour fuel on the fire by attending the game while the appeal process unfolds.
But it was a measure of Forest’s ongoing feud with the authorities that their fans loudly booed the pre-match handshakes between the players – as they protested totting up £825,000 worth of fines this month alone!
Unfortunately no-one was able to cash in at the end of an entertaining first 45 minutes when plenty of chances were created – but none taken.
Palace, refreshed from their 16 day break, started on the front foot and Eberichi Eze flashed a left footer just wide from 25 yards.
Daichi Kamada and Eddie Nketiah were next to try their luck but failed to trouble Matz Sels unduly, while Jefferson Lerma picked up an early booking for hauling down Ola Aina.
Incredibly it was his 40th top flight yellow card, making the midfielder the sixth baddest boy for bookings in Prem history.
Elliot Anderson then took centre stage in front of watching England caretaker boss Lee Carsley.
The £35million summer signing from Newcastle had the City Ground on its feet with a Messi-like run which saw him wriggle past three Palace defenders before Dean Henderson pawed away his shot for a corner.
Wood had a header cleared off the line by Lerma before Nketiah came even closer at the other end with a swerving shot on the run which clipped off the outside of Sels’ post.
Not to be undone, Forest skipper Ryan Yates steered a header beyond Henderson but, frustratingly, the ball bounced back off the far post as Wood failed to apply the finishing touch.
Five of the last six league games between this pair have finished as draws and the game desperately needed a goal to breathe fresh life into it.
However Matz Sels refused to play ball as he pulled off a stunning double save to deny Eze then Kamada, who he somehow blocked from four yards.
Fortunately the flag was up for offside to save Kamada’s blushes.
Anderson was then booked for bundling over Nketiah and from the resulting free kick Palace brought out the best in Sels again.
Will Hughes touched the ball to one side and Ebericho Eze unleashed a screamer which Forest’s Belgian keeper sensationally tipped over.
However it was a goalkeeping howler at the other end which finally broke the deadlock just after the hour.
Alex Moreo’s long ball forward was nodded out by Trevoh Chalobah and Wood pounced to fire in a harmless looking volley which lacked power.
But Henderson got it all wrong, allowing the ball to squirm under his outstretched arm and the ball squeezed in at his near post.
