Crystal Palace were denied a third league win in a row on Tuesday night after Dexter Blackstock levelled for Nottingham Forest nine minutes from time at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles had enjoyed the majority of possession and chances in an entertaining first half of football but couldn’t make their superiority count.

Dougie Freedman’s men deservedly took the lead shortly after the break when Kagisho Dikgacoi, the match winner against Charlton on Friday, headed home Owen Garvan’s corner in the 50th minute.

Forest, unbeaten in the league, then had substitute Adlene Guedioura sent off in the 63rd for kicking out at Mile Jedinak after the two had tangled.

Palace surged forward against the 10 men, Wilfried Zaha and substitute Yannick Bolasie causing most of the problems, but it was the visitors who found the net through Blackstock.

The former Southampton striker then went close moments later, only for Julian Speroni to pull off a wonderful to save to deny Sean O’Driscoll’s men the lead.

Palace could have won it in injury time but Forest ‘keeper Lee Camp was alert enough to stop Peter Ramage’s close range header.