A PHONEY WAR

Grudge match after Euro row fails to spark

- By Mike Walters

FOR a needle match, it was less prickly than a five o’clock shadow — and the pantomime villain did not even turn up.

Nuno Espirito Santo remains on a short leash as Nottingham Forest’s ringleader and Crystal Palace, who have spent just £3million since winning the FA Cup in May, are still dangerously short of squad depth.

In the end, a point apiece was about right, but the predicted outbreak of Queensberry Rules over Palace being gazumped in Europe by Forest never materialised.

Two smartly-taken goals aside, the contest on the pitch lacked creativity and composure in the final third.

In the stands, any grudges were as stroppy as a churchwardens’ disagreement over the type of jam at the vicarage tea party.