October 24 2009

Darren Ambrose

Darren Ambrose scored with a free-kick but Crystal Palace had to make do with a 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest.

The draw halted Forest's five game winning run and leaves Palace 14th in the Championship table.

Ambrose tried his luck from a dead ball within the opening five minutes which Forest keeper Lee Camp had to be on his guard to save.

The visitors hit back with Nathan Tyson heading Chris Cohen's cross over, then he got behind the Palace defence from Paul McKenna's pass but fired off target.

Camp had to be alert to palm out Danny Butterfield's header and Shaun Derry blasted an effort high and over.

Palace boss Neil Warnock had to shuffle his pack when Freddie Sears was forced off with a groin injury in the 34th minute with Victor Moses replacing the on-loan West Ham striker.

And Moses almost grabbed a goal with his first touch but saw his volley deflected wide of the goal.

Five minutes before the interval, Palace took the lead with a cracking free-kick from Ambrose that rocketed in off the underside of the bar.

Three minutes into the second half, Forest pulled a goal back when David McGoldrick slid in to divert home Lewis McGugan's cross from the right.

Camp made an excellent save to keep out Ambrose's volley on the hour mark, while Tyson nodded another headed chance wide.

Palace sub Stern John, up against his old side, could have won it for the hosts with a fierce shot from 30 yards that sailed inches off target. Then in stoppage time, Camp denied the striker by pushing his shot around the post.

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