Dexter Blackstock scored a late equaliser as 10-man Nottingham Forest maintained their unbeaten start to the Championship season against Crystal Palace tonight.

Kagisho Dikgacoi's second goal in as many games gave Palace the lead at Selhurst Park, shortly before Adlene Guedioura was sent off for the visitors.

However, substitute Blackstock struck with nine minutes remaining to salvage Sean O'Driscoll's revamped outfit an unlikely point.

Eagles defender Damien Delaney came close to opening the scoring in the first half when he struck the post from Wilfried Zaha's deep cross.

The woodwork was not on hand to deny Palace the lead during the second period when Dikgacoi looped a nodded effort over Lee Camp.

Forest's task was made even more difficult when Guedioura saw red for violent conduct after clashing with Mile Jedinak.

Palace thought they had doubled their advantage on 70 minutes, but Peter Ramage was adjudged to have impeded Camp in the process of heading home.

With their first shot on target, Forest levelled the scores as Blackstock poked the ball past Julian Speroni from close range.

Having been the inferior side throughout most of the contest, Forest nearly snatched victory in the final stages, but this time Speroni was equal to Blackstock's effort as Palace escaped with a more than deserved point.