Callum Hudson-Odoi nets in Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest draw

Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest held each other to a 1-1 draw in a game that was billed as the "battle of the boardrooms" after the controversy over their European football status this season.

Ismaïla Sarr opened the scoring for Palace in the first half, but Callum Hudson-Odoi levelled in the secind period.

The game was staged in the backfrop of off-field drama. Forest replaced Palace in the Europa League after the latter were deemed to have breached UEFA's multi-club ownership rules.

There was also drama surrounding the Forest dugout, with manager Nuno Espirito Santo reportedly having fallen out of favour with owner Evangelos Marinakis.

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When asked before the game if his comments that the pair are "not as close" could be perceived as him trying to engineer a departure from the club, Nuno told Sky Sports: "That is nonsense. That does not make any kind of sense.

"The state is that we are focused on the game, that is more important. We have to make sure the players are ready to play, because this game is going to be very tough."

Asked if he wanted to continue in his role, the Forest boss added: "Of course. Of course."

Justin Devenny, the 21-year-old Northern Ireland international Oliver Glasner inserted in Eberechi Eze's place for Palace's Conference League first-leg play-off victory over Fredrikstad on Thursday night, earned another start.

And he had an early chance with a cross-shot from a tight angle denied.

Jean-Philippe Mateta came closer to opening the scoring just before the half hour -- his strike, straight at Matz Sels, just the second shot on target for the hosts who had limited Forest to none.

Morgan Gibbs-White would have wanted to do better in the build-up to Palace's opener. He was unable to take control of the ball as it dropped just outside the 18-yard box, allowing Will Hughes to seize possession.

Sarr then broke the deadlock with the finishing touch of a well-worked sequence that began with Adam Wharton's sprayed pass out to Daniel Muñoz, who perfectly-timed his own delivery for the Senegal international to guide in the opener.

Palace had a few more opportunities to double their lead before the break - a Will Hughes effort flashed wide and Marc Guehi's header against the right post with the final touch of the first half.

Nuno switched his wingers' sides to start the second half and it paid off when Hudson-Odoi drew the sides level in the 57th minute, supplied by a sharp pass from Dan Ndoye, allowing him to outpace Tyrick Mitchell and finish low past the outstretched toe of Dean Henderson.

Forest nearly emerged victors when Jesus -- who would have had Henderson beaten -- smashed against the woodwork in stoppage time, when VAR also disagreed with Palace's penalty shouts after Sarr was brought down by Murillo.

New Forest signing Omari Hutchinson had two decent chances to snatch a winner, but directed both off target.

Information from PA contributed to this report.