Everton beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in a massive relegation six-pointer at Goodison Park on Sunday as Sean Dyche’s side eased their relegation fears.
Idrissa Gana Gueye put Everton ahead in the first half, then Dwight McNeil added a second late in the second as Everton move five points clear of the relegation zone. Nottingham Forest were denied by Jordan Pickford and three questionable penalty kick calls which went against them as they remain just one point off the drop zone.
Everton move on to 30 points, while Forest remain on 26.
Both clubs are awaiting the result of their appeals against points deduction for breaching Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSRs).
Forest right to fume about penalty kick calls but they took it too far
Nottingham Forest released a strongly worded statement hitting out at the VAR official, Stuart Attwell, for their game against Everton: “Three extremely poor decisions - three penalties not given - which we simply cannot accept. We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times. NFFC will now consider its options.” Were Forest right to do so? No. Former referee Mark Clattenburg is on their staff and has already been involved in hitting out at the PGMOL after Forest’s late defeat to Liverpool earlier this season. He should know better. Forest have to show restraint but the points deduction and run of one win from nine games has added extra concern in their relegation scrap. The pressure is building on Nuno Espirito Santo’s side and it is correct that they should have had two penalty kicks for the handball against Ashley Young and the foul on Callum Hudson-Odoi, while another penalty kick decision could have easily gone for them as Reyna was taken out by Young, again, in the box. Forest were unlucky with the calls but to publicly call into question the professionalism of a VAR official, Attwell, based solely on his fandom is quite something. We’ve never seen anything like this before and Forest are entering dangerous territory as Attwell will now be under serious scrutiny and become a public target. Did Attwell make a few mistakes? Yes. Did he do that because he’s a Luton fan? Absolutely not. Forest are clutching at straws here and this statement showed their frustration and should have been left in their drafts.
Everton vs Nottingham Forest player ratings
Via FotMob.com you can see that Gueye and Doucoure were excellent in midfield, while Pickford had a fine game in goal. Forest huffed and puffed and right back Neco Williams was their most dangerous player.
What’s next?
Everton host Liverpool on Wednesday April 24, while Forest host Manchester City on Sunday, April 28.
How to watch Everton vs Nottingham Forest live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 8:30am ET Sunday
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Watch online via NBC.com
Everton vs Nottingham Forest live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Everton vs Nottingham Forest final score: 2-0
Gueye 29', McNeil 76’
Full time: Everton 2-0 Nottingham Forest
The Toffees get the big win they needed to boost their survival hopes. Forest remain in real danger. A controversial win for Everton though, as Forest could have had at least two penalty kicks.
Delay late on as Gibbs-White and Beto go down
Nasty clash of heads in stoppage time and we have a delay here as both sets of players get treatment. Gibbs-White is back up. Beto isn’t and is receiving lengthy treatment. This looks like a very serious injury for the Everton forward who is carried off the pitch on a stretcher and puts his arm up to acknowledge the fans as they applaud him.
What a strike from McNeil! - Everton 2-0 Nottingham Forest (76th minute)
That should be that for Everton. What a hit. 2-0 up and cruising.
It is all Forest and Gibbs-White should score
Everton are playing a very high line now and Gibbs-White is in on goal but he curls wide.
Young again lucky to not give away a penalty
Ashley Young slides in and brings down Hudson-Odoi. VAR once again takes a look but no penalty kick is given. Young could have given away three penalty kicks today but the handball and that challenge on Hudson-Odoi definitely looked like penalties. Everton lucky.
Slow start to the second half
Everton are doing their best to take the sting out of Forest’s attack. And it is working. Everton have a half chance from a corner but Calvert-Lewin can’t get his shot on target.
Half time: Everton 1-0 Nottingham Forest
Everton are ahead but it isn’t comfortable. Forest have carried a real threat in a very even game. What a second half this should be at Goodison.
Should that be a penalty, again, for Forest?
Hudson-Odoi hits the ball back across goal and it hits Ashley Young’s outstretched arm. VAR has a look but nothing is given. That is the second time today Young is lucky to get away with not conceding a penalty kick. The Forest bench is livid and one of the coaches is shown a yellow card for his remonstrations.
Crucial save from Pickford
What a stop from Everton and England’s number one. Gibbs-White hits the ball into the ground, it loops up and clinical Chris Wood hammers the ball at goal inside the six yards box, but Pickford puts up a strong right hand to save and then Everton scramble the loose ball away. Brilliant stop from Pickford at a crucial time of the game just before half time.
Everton lead! Gueye’s shot sneaks home - Everton 1-0 Nottingham Forest (29th minute)
A cross into the box is half-cleared by Forest but Gueye has way too much time 25 yards out. He takes one touch and then scuffs a low shot into the far corner as it hits the post and goes in. Not the cleanest strike but Gueye and Everton don’t care.
Hudson-Odoi’s low shot is spilled but Pickford gathers
Chris Wood with some great hold-up play and Hudson-Odoi drives into the box and gets a low shot on goal. Pickford spills it but no Forest player is there to tap home the rebound and Pickford gathers. Everton looking a bit shaky.
Is that a penalty for Forest!?
Gio Reyna goes down in the box and VAR has a look at the challenge but no penalty is given. Ashley Young is pretty lucky there. He looks to have clipped the back of Reyna’s heel just as he was about to receive the ball.
Everton have wasted so many set-piece opportunities
Forest have conceded more goals than any other Premier League team from set-piece situations so Everton, who are very good at those, will have targeted that before kick off. But the camera pans to Dyche and he’s upset because early on Everton have had some free kicks in great areas but Andre Gomes has been extremely wasteful. Some really poor deliveries.
Bright start!
We are off at a boisterous Goodison! And there are chances for both teams. Jordan Pickford denies Neco Williams at one end, with USMNT’s Gio Reyna popping up in some good positions for Forest and Williams also whipping in a dangerous cross. Everton are also pushing to create with plenty of crosses whipped in and they are making Forest work hard defensively early on.
Everton lineup
Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Brnathwaite, Mykolenko; Harrison, Gueye, Gomes, McNeil; Doucoure; Calvert-Lewin
Nottingham Forest lineup
Sels; Williams, Niakhate, Murillo, Aina; Dominguez, Danilo, Reyna, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
Everton focus, team news
OUT: Dele Alli (groin), Lewis Dobbin (ankle), Seamus Coleman (groin), Nathan Patterson (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (thigh), Jarrad Branthwaite (undisclosed), Idrissa Gana Gueye (calf)
Nottingham Forest focus, team news
OUT: Taiwo Awoniyi (undisclosed), Willy Boly (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Anthony Elanga (undisclosed)