Forest conquer Merseyside, with big win against Everton
Another week, another win. Nottingham Forest are on their best run of top flight form since 1995 – the fans are in dreamland, and the Reds sit inside the top four. Before other results, 2nd, thanks to a fifth successive Premier League victory, this time against Everton.
The first half:
Everton looked shaky from the off. Immediately misplacing passes, and looking nervous under pressure from Wood, Elanga and Ramon Sosa, the Paraguayan for which replaced Murillo, who picked up an injury during the warm up.
The ball sat more so in Blue feet rather than Red, but Forest used possession better – a theme that would continue – eventually a goal would come. A ball from Gibbs-White to Wood is taken down well, headed to Elanga, and Elanga then cushions it, lays it to Wood, who chips Pickford in stupendous fashion. Home fans stunned. Wood on his 11th goal of the campaign, Elanga with yet another goal contribution.
For the rest of the half, Everton’s tactics lay clear: play back to Branthwaite or Tarkowski, and fire a ball into Broja, or the wingers to end with a cross and shot. Forest neutralised these efforts. Ndiaye is the player I feel most sorry for, a player who has such quick feet, a wonderful gift of agility, but locked into a system that kills that expression.
Forest better with the ball at their feet, despite having it much less – half ends 0-1.
The second half:
Everton replace Harrison for Lindstrøm, in the hopes they could get past the powerhouse that is Neco Williams. Didn’t quite work out.
The blues continued with their efforts, Ndiaye most effective on the ball for penetrating the final third, but rarely could the blues get reception to Broja, who eagerly awaited opportunities, but to no avail.
Everton fans, aloft from their seats, all around me in discontent; shouts of “get it forward” (in polite terms) are all that could be heard, a dark night at Goodison was soon to get worse.
Forest’s opportunity came as Elanga broke through a complacent Everton defence, found Chris Wood who then unselfishly found Gibbs-White opposite. Gibbs-White had the hearts of every Forest fan in their mouth, he hesitated to shoot, turned through the legs of Doucouré, and soon fired it past Pickford. An elegant move, and finish – superb. No longer do Forest suffer from other teams capitalising, they now capitalise themselves – superb football.
It was an incredibly unspectacular half, Forest probably had 20% possession if that, but always attacked with more promise. Everton rarely challenged Matz Sels, and the game ended that way.
For the Toffees, a sticky situation, for Forest, a new growth has begun; a truly special time for the Reds and their fans.
Another day, another win. Another clean sheet and a final chance to win at the fabulous Goodison park, taken.
*Article provided by Jamie Martin (Head Nottingham Forest Correspondent).
*Main image @NFFC Morgan Gibbs-White celebrates after the win at Everton.
