Chris Wood. Photo: Photosport
Nottingham Forest's New Zealand striker Chris Wood rescued a point against Crystal Palace with a second-half equaliser to help his relegation-battling side move out of the drop zone after a 1-1 home draw in the Premier League on Sunday.
Forest, plunged into the bottom three last week after having four points deducted for breaking financial rules last season, sit in 17th place with eight games to go.
They are level on 22 points with Luton Town, who lost at Tottenham Hotspur but have a better goal difference after 30 games. Palace are 14th on 30 points from 29 matches.
Before kick off, Forest fans gave their view on the club's points deduction when they held up banners saying: "We shall fight and we shall overcome".
Palace went ahead in the 11th minute with a well-worked team goal when Eberechi Eze found Jean-Philippe Mateta with a pinpoint cross and the Frenchman found the top corner to take his tally to four goals in his last seven games.
Forest equalised when Wood headed home Morgan Gibbs-White's cross from the left in the 61st minute, with the goal standing after the VAR checked for offside.
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo said he expected more from his side at home but was happy with the reaction shown after going down early.
"We wanted another result, in these games at home we expect more, we wanted more," he said.
"The game started badly, so the reaction was a positive but, at the same time, I think we did enough. We were more dominant, we controlled the game.
"We showed character, the City Ground was there for us again and we get a point. We wanted three, we get one but it is one that has to be valuable."
Spurs and Newcastle win
Elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United both sealed comeback victories to boost their European qualification hopes.
Son Heung-min's 86th minute strike earned Tottenham a 2-1 victory over Luton to put the pressure back on Aston Villa in the battle for fourth spot.
Newcastle's win over West Ham United was far more dramatic as they trailed 3-1 with 77 minutes on the clock but two goals from Harvey Barnes gave them a 4-3 victory.
Tottenham climbed into fourth place with 56 points from 29 games, ahead of Aston Villa on goals scored.
Newcastle are in eighth spot but now only a point behind seventh-placed West Ham with a game in hand.
"It was one of the maddest games I have played in for sure," Barnes told the BBC.
"We were obviously disappointed to be where we are in the game and then we had a mountain to climb.
"This team is all about team spirit and never give up and that showed in abundance today."
Alexander Isak's early penalty gave Newcastle the lead but West Ham hit back with goals by Michail Antonio, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen. Isak's second penalty 13 minutes from time gave Newcastle hope and the livewire Barnes then equalised before lashing in a 90th-minute winner.
There was still more drama as Newcastle's Anthony Gordon was show a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.
Luton dropped back below Forest into the relegation zone as they were stung by Son's late winner.
James Maddison (L) and Son Heung-Min. Photo: Photosport
Tahith Chong gave the visitors a surprise early lead but Issa Kabore's own goal in the 51st minute levelled it up.
Tottenham captain Son then started and finished a flowing late move to bag his 160th goal for the club.
Chelsea's struggles continued as they were held to a 2-2 home draw against relegation-threatened Burnley.
Despite being down to 10 men when Lorenz Assignon was shown a second yellow card for a foul which resulted in Cole Palmer netting a 44th-minute penalty, Burnley did not wilt.
Clarets' captain Josh Cullen stunned Stamford Bridge by scoring two minutes into the second half and although Palmer restored Chelsea's lead, Dara O'Shea's powerful header squared it up before Jay Rodriguez almost won it for Burnley.
Chelsea remained in 11th place while Burnley are 19th, four points behind Forest.
Bottom club Sheffield United led 3-1 at home to Fulham but goals by Bobby Decordova-Reid and Rodrigo Muniz denied them a victory that would have raised hopes of survival.
United, for whom Ben Brereton Diaz scored twice and Oli McBurnie once, thought they had gone 4-1 ahead but McBurnie's second goal was ruled out by VAR.
And the home crowd was stunned in the third of 14 minutes of stoppage time when in-form Brazilian Muniz met Adama Traore's cross with a spectacular overhead volley.
The title race resumes on Monday with leaders Arsenal at Manchester City and Liverpool hosting Brighton.
- Reuters
