The large banner unfurled by Crystal Palace fans in the Holmesdale End midway through the first half certainly made an impression.
There were strong cartoon likenesses of the central characters, for starters. The trembling figure of Morgan Gibbs-White unmistakable in his Nottingham Forest kit and Evangelos Marinakis, in a predictably unflattering portrayal.
There were a few significant words daubed in the top left corner relating to the controversial Forest owner and, in the background, a ship, banknotes spilling from sacks and John Textor, whose co-ownership of Palace cost them a place in the Europa League on a technicality.
Full marks to the Selhurst satirists. If the message wasn’t clear enough, the banner was accompanied by the day’s lustiest chorus of Palace’s favourite protest song.
One featuring their strength of feeling in this South London postcode towards UEFA, Textor and Marinakis. And in that moment, the raw emotion of 99 days since the jubilant day when Palace won the FA Cup exploded.
From the euphoria of Wembley and a first major trophy to the disappointment of their relegation from the Europa League to the Conference League as visitors Forest replaced them.
Nottingham Forest fought back from behind to draw 1-1 with Crystal Palace
Palace took the lead after capitalising on a visceral energy generated by the crowd
A large unflattering banner directed at Evangelos Marinakis was unfurled in the home end
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This was compounded by losing talisman Eberechi Eze, whose £67.5million move to Arsenal was completed on Saturday. And here was Gibbs-White, unfortunate to be woven into the narrative by Palace fans as Forest’s key creative force, who resisted a £60m offer from Tottenham and signed a new improved contract at the City Ground.
There are few stadiums in the Premier League still capable of generating this visceral energy, but Selhurst Park is one and Oliver Glasner’s team were able to harness it.
From that moment until half-time, Palace dominated.
They took the lead through Ismaila Sarr, who swept in a cross from the right by Daniel Munoz and were close to a second when Marc Guehi headed against a post just before the interval.
Adam Wharton caught the eye with England boss Thomas Tuchel in the stands. Wharton’s vision and passing was central to the Sarr goal.
First a slick pass left to launch a move which came to nothing. Then recycling the possession in midfield, changing the angle of attack and picking out Munoz on the charge down the right.
Wharton eclipsed Gibbs-White but his influence faded as Palace did. They lost the impetus and could not hold on. The second half belonged to the visitors. They fought back and Callum Hudson-Odoi sped clear to score the equaliser soon after the restart.
Elliot Anderson also produced flashes of quality in midfield to send Tuchel home with food for thought before he names the squad for England’s World Cup qualifiers next month against Andorra and Serbia.
Nuno Espirito Santo is expecting showdown talks with owner Marinakis in the week
Ismaila Sarr made the breakthrough during a first-half in which the hosts dominated
But Callum Hudson-Odoi levelled the scores, firing in at Dean Henderson’s front post
Nuno has loyal supporters onside despite the owner appearing to lose faith and patience
Forest substitute Igor Jesus thumped an effort against a post late on. That would have been a goal to add yet another layer of intrigue to the animosity in the air. Jesus is a forward signed this summer from Botafogo, the Brazilian club in Textor’s stable.
Crystal Palace had made their point though, and Forest took theirs back to the Midlands.
Perhaps not a surprise. The clubs have now met 11 times in the Premier League and only once has either team scored more than a single goal. That came back in 1995, scored for Forest by Stan Collymore.
Nuno Espirito Santo gave Gibbs-White a supportive cuddle on the pitch after the final whistle and the away end rose to acclaim their head coach who told Sky Sports in a pre-match interview that he was expecting talks with Marinakis during the week.
Not unlike his predecessor Steve Cooper, Nuno has loyal fans onside even if his owner appears to be losing faith and patience, their relationship strained by a tense summer and with names of potential replacements swirling.
Once the dust settles on this draw, however, it is the Forest supporters who will proceed into the season ahead with more confidence. Gibbs-White is still with them and will have happier afternoons.
Four signings in the last week have bolstered the squad. Three of them, Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee and Arnaud Kalimuendo came on to make their debuts at Selhurst. And Nuno’s strength from the bench was critical to his team reversing momentum.
Sterner tests await both teams when European competition comes into play and complicates the cycle of rest and preparation. Both Nuno and Glasner like to plan and drill their players tactically.
It is more difficult when coping with international travel and the mental fatigue associated with the Thursday-Sunday fixture pattern.
Palace however have a squad with very little depth. Glasner had few attacking options among his substitutes and had to be satisfied with keeping the Forest comeback to a minimum.
Nuno is tangling with his board for more signings and the Palace boss seems to be doing the same, in his own way, with his own, very different chairman.
First, they have must complete the victory against Fredrikstad of Norway in the Conference League play-off, and do what he can to keep Guehi at the club.
