Selhurst Park played host to a cagey 1-1 draw between Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest in a game that saw nine yellow cards.
Eberechi Eze scored the opener from the penalty spot after Matz Sels was deemed to have committed a foul in the box.
Murillo equalised the affair with a clever touch to ensure that his side did not leave London with nothing.
Early Chances:
There were not many moments early in the first half to get the fans out of their seats, but the two most threatening were both created by Crystal Palace, but at different ends.
The first was from a Crystal Palace corner in the 12th minute that landed perfectly at the feet of Chris Richards. The American defender missed his kick, letting Forest off the hook.
Six minutes later, Palace put themselves in danger as Tyrick Mitchell heads the ball back to Dean Henderson with a bit too much pace. Luckily for the wing-back, his goalkeeper was quick to react, ensuring that he would not have an own goal to his name.
Changing momentums:
There was a feeling for the entirety of the first half that neither side particularly had complete control over proceedings. Palace were more lively in the opening twenty minutes, but then Forest began to tick.
There was a brief moment of threat from Palace throughout Forest’s period of control, where Daniel Munoz got on the end of Mitchell’s cross. The Colombian hit his attempt on the volley, forcing a strong save out of Matz Sels.
The best chance of the first half arrived five minutes before the break when Forest did what they do so well and counter with pace. Morgan Gibbs-White emerged with the ball before moving it forward. Chris Wood eventually received the ball and played in Anthony Elanga who had his shot saved by Henderson.
The Deadlock Is Broken:
The second half began in much quicker fashion than the first half and as a result, the first goal of the game was scored.
Tyrick Mitchell brought down a ball towards the far post and took a great touch to bring it around Matz Sels, who stuck out his leg and consequently tripped the wing-back.
It took a VAR check for the challenge to be deemed a penalty, with Eberechi Eze being the player to step up to take the spot-kick.
It was a slow run-up from the England international who eventually blasted his effort into the bottom-left corner and put his side in the lead.
A Quick Response:
Nottingham Forest were at a real risk of losing significant ground in the battle for Champions League football and would need to get back in this game quickly if they wanted to take maximum points.
It only took five minutes for Nottingham Forest to find that all-important equaliser via an unlikely source.
The ball fell to Neco Williams on the edge of the box following a corner. He pulled the trigger, which resulted in a goal thanks to an instinctive flick from Murillo, which gave him his second Premier League goal of the season.
Late Opportunities:
It felt as if any team was going to take all three points, it would be the hosts as they had the better chances late on, one of which did end up with the ball in the net.
Murillo being forced off the pitch seemingly with an issue – a potentially substantial blow for Forest’s season, did not help Forest in the slightest, as they continued to fend off Palace.
With one minute of regular time left, Eberechi Eze received the ball on the left. The attacker cut inside and attempted to curl a shot towards the top right corner of Sels’ net that rattled the bar instead.
The second of eight minutes of stoppage time saw the ball put in the back of the net by Eddie Nketiah, who got on the end of a wayward shot from Eze.
However, after a VAR check, it was deemed that Nketiah was offside and that the game would resume with the scoreline unaltered.
This is how the game would end after a much more intense 45 minutes than the crowd witnessed in the first half.
What Does This Mean?:
Forest lost more ground in their quest for Champions League football as other results this weekend did not go in their favour.
They currently sit in sixth, two points behind Chelsea and Newcastle ahead of them. Forest will have a chance to make up ground next weekend when the Blues and the Magpies face off up North.
This point does not move Palace anywhere, currently sat in 12th, five points in front of Wolves and five points behind Fulham ahead of their trip to Tottenham.
The Teams:
Crystal Palace: D. Henderson, M. Guehi, M. Lacroix, C. Richards, T. Mitchell, A. Wharton (W. Hughes 61′), D. Kamada (J. Lerma 88′), D. Munoz, E. Eze, I. Sarr, J.P. Mateta (E. Nketiah 76′)
Booked: D. Munoz, D. Kamada
Unused Substitutes: R. Matthews, N. Clyne, B. Chilwell, J. Devenny, M. Franca, R. Esse
Nottingham Forest: M. Sels, O. Aina, N. Milenkovic, Murillo (Morato 81′), N. Williams, I. Sangaré (R. Yates 77′), N. Dominguez (R. Sosa 66′), A. Elanga, M. Gibbs-White, E. Anderson, C. Wood
Booked: N. Dominguez, M. Sels, I. Sangaré, N. Williams, M. Gibbs-White, O. Aina, R. Yates
Unused Subs: C. Miguel, H. Toffolo, W. Boly, Danilo, T. Awoniyi, J. Silva,