Nottingham Forest edged a step closer to Premier League safety after battling to a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at the City Ground, extending their unbeaten league run to four matches under Sean Dyche. The result also stretched Palace’s winless streak to 12 games in all competitions.

Both sides started brightly, with Jefferson Lerma testing Matz Sels inside two minutes. Forest soon had a penalty appeal waved away before Morgan Gibbs-White broke the deadlock in the sixth minute, side-footing home from close range.

The goal was Gibbs-White’s 23rd in Forest colours, moving him ahead of Stan Collymore and leaving him just one behind Bryan Roy on the club’s Premier League scoring list.

Elliot Anderson’s energetic display in midfield stood out as the first half progressed, while Palace’s Will Hughes and Daniel Muñoz ensured the contest remained physical and competitive.

Just before half-time, Forest suffered a major setback when Neco Williams handled Lerma’s powerful header on the goal line. The defender was shown a straight red card, and Ismaïla Sarr converted the resulting penalty to level the score.

Palace dominated possession after the break against 10 men and wasted an early chance when Hughes sliced wide from a promising position. Forest responded briefly through Igor Jesus, whose rising effort narrowly cleared the bar, before former Forest player Brennan Johnson headed just wide at the other end.

As the match became increasingly open, both teams pushed for a winner in the closing stages, but neither could find a decisive breakthrough.

The draw ended Palace’s run of five consecutive away defeats in all competitions, although they remain without a Premier League victory over Forest, having now failed to win in 12 meetings since the competition’s inception in 1992.