While the Forest hierarchy may be divided, the fans showed at Selhurst Park they remain behind the manager.
Nuno took to the pitch at full-time and clapped and gave a thumbs-up to fans, who responded with chants of ‘Nuno, Nuno, Nuno’.
Then he turned and walked away – and it remains to be seen whether it will be for the final time.
Before the game, Forest fans told the BBC of their concern for the future of the manager who had taken them to their highest Premier League position since the mid-1990s when they finished seventh last season.
Fans Lynne and Lisa, speaking to the BBC’s Aaron Paul as they waited for the away players to arrive at Selhurst Park, remain hopeful Nuno will stay.
“It came out the blue on Friday, hopefully it will all get resolved,” they said.
The do not blame Marinakis, though, as they added: “We like his passion. He’s spending a lot of money, we can’t ask for more.”
The Forest performance at Palace perhaps indicated an uncertainty among the players, lacking the verve and fluency seen in their 3-1 opening-game win over Brentford.
Forest did not have a shot on target until the 57th minute, when Hudson-Odoi’s shot beat Palace keeper Dean Henderson at the near post.
Sympathy for Nuno had been in short supply from the home crowd before that equaliser.
“You’re getting sacked in the morning,” mocked some Eagles fans.
But, referring to Palace’s demotion from the Europa League to the Uefa Conference League for breaching multi-ownership rules, Forest fans responded with, “Europa League, you’re having a laugh”.
Forest, who took that Europa League spot on their league placing, finished much the stronger side and almost snatched victory in added time.
Striker Igor Jesus struck the post, while Hutchinson lifted a shot over the bar after an impressive late cameo.
It meant Forest missed the chance of successive wins to start a top-flight season for the first time since 1987-88 under Brian Clough, but stretched their unbeaten Premier League run against Palace to 11 games.
