Premier League GW34 - Everton vs Nottm Forest

Everton vs Nottm Forest | Picture Credits: Premier League Website

Everton defeated Nottingham Forest 2-0 at Goodison Park, capping up a thrilling relegation struggle. The win puts Forest in a vulnerable position as they fight to avoid relegation, but it also gives Everton a major boost in their Premier League survival ambitions.

Everton:

The 5-1 thumping of Luton Town by Brentford on Saturday will have relieved supporters of Everton and Forest, but neither team is sitting pretty at this pivotal stage of the season, with both hindered by point deductions for violating the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules. After losing 6-0 at Chelsea last time out, Sean Dyche's Toffees are only two points above the dreaded dotted line. However, a victory today would be a significant step towards safety for them, given they still have games against Brentford, Luton, and Sheffield United remaining. But Everton has had a dismal run dating back to mid-December, winning just one of their previous 15 league games. Goodison will become quite agitated if Forest takes the lead.

Nottm Forest:

While they appeal a four-point loss for breaking the Premier League's financial rules, which amounts to half of the total penalty Everton earned for two consecutive infractions, Forest is only one point ahead of Luton. Since defeating West Ham in the middle of February, Nuno Espirito Santo's team has only won one of their last eight league games. Most recently, they were held to a 2-2 tie by his old team, Wolves. Nuno appears to have instilled some resilience as evidenced by their three draws in their past five games, but if they want to have a more pleasant May, they must start converting draws into wins.

Line ups:

EVERTON (4-4-1-1): Jordan Pickford; Ashley Young, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitalii Mykolenko; Jack Harrison, Idrissa Gueye, Andre Gomes, Dwight McNeil; Abdoulaye Doucoure; Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

EVERTON SUBS: Michael Keane, Amadou Onana, Arnaut Danjuma, Joao Virginia, Beto, Ben Godfrey, Youssef Chermiti, James Garner, Lewis Warrington.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-2-3-1): Matz Sels; Neco Williams, Moussa Niakhate, Murillo, Ola Aina; Danilo, Nicolas Dominguez; Giovanni Reyna, Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi; Chris Wood.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST SUBS: Matt Turner, Ibrahim Sangare, Harry Toffolo, Anthony Elanga, Ryan Yates, Divock Origi, Gonzalo Montiel, Andrew Omobamidele, Rodrigo Ribeiro.

Goodison Park Stadium | Picture Credits - Football Ground Guide

Gueye scored a goal for Everton which gave them a lead of 1-0 | Picture Credits: Premier League Website

First Half: Gueye's Strike Gives Everton the Lead

Idrissa Gueye's well-placed goal gave Everton the lead in the first half. With a low drive that beat Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels and tucked into the bottom corner, the midfielder took advantage of space outside the box to give Everton a crucial lead.

Second Half: McNeil Secures the Win with Stunning Strike

Everton increased their lead in the second half thanks to a spectacular goal from Dwight McNeil. After receiving a pass from Abdoulaye Doucoure, the midfielder blasted powerfully from 25 yards out, hitting the post and the net with a shot that gave Sels no chance.

The Everton defender Ashley Young narrowly avoided giving up a penalty several times, much to Forest's dismay, so the game wasn't without controversy. Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White both wasted excellent opportunities to tie the score, but Forest was unable to take use of their opportunities despite several controversial rulings.

Everton Move Closer to Safety

Everton's crucial 2-0 victory was confirmed by the final whistle, moving them five points clear of the relegation zone. With the victory, Everton's chances of surviving are much increased, but Forest is in a dangerous situation as they are only one point above the drop zone. The fight for survival in the Premier League is far from finished, with both teams facing difficult obstacles in their remaining games.

McNeil’s goal for Everton doubled their lead to 2-0 | Picture Credits: Premier League Website