Brennan Johnson produced a moment of class in a game sorely lacking, denying Everton a win that would have lifted them out of the last three.
Nottingham Forest trailed Sean Dyche’s side twice but salvaged a draw thanks to Johnson’s brilliant shot from 15 yards.
It was Johnson’s second equalizer. His first-half strike canceled out Demarai Gray’s opening goal from the penalty spot, although Abdoulaye Doucoure restored Everton’s lead before half-time. Forest is four points above the drop zone and is unbeaten at home in nine games.
Everton were again without centre-forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin and this time Dyche opted to leave his understudy Neal Maupay and Ellis Simms on the bench.
As the league’s worst scorer and without an orthodox striker, an early goal from Everton seemed unlikely – but that’s exactly what happened.
Brennan Johnson produced a moment of real quality to save Nottingham Forest a point
They came from behind twice – first through Demarai Gray’s penalty and then through Abdoulaye Doucoure
Sean Dyche’s quest for a first away win as Everton boss continues as they continue to languish at the end
Dyche’s men were joined by former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, whose silly fight against Dwight McNeil earned the visitors a penalty. Gray converted it and the former Leicester player milked it by getting on his knees in front of Forest fans.
Forest were disjointed in the opening games but it didn’t take long for them to equalize. Morgan Gibbs-White played a one-two with Chris Wood and although Jordan Pickford saved the shot, he was only able to shove it in the path of Johnson, who leveled.
Forest’s tail was up by this point and James Tarkowski did just enough to stop Wood from finding a Renan Lodi cross. At the other end, Everton cried in vain for a second penalty when Seamus Coleman fell under pressure from Jack Colback.
Her frustration didn’t last long, however. Just before the half-hour, Tarkowski headed a Pickford free-kick into the danger zone, where Michael Keane passed Joe Worrall. Remo Freuler forgot to follow Doucoure’s run, who headed over the struggling Keylor Navas. Forest was doubly angry because they were denied a free kick when Gibbs-White was crippled seconds earlier.
Having come under pressure after equalizing, Everton could have been further up at half-time. McNeil was allowed to slide in from the right, forcing Navas to tip over, and Doucoure escaped on the left to find Gray unmarked while Gibbs-White made a vital block.
The game consistently had a physical advantage that almost spilled over after the break. After a series of wild challenges, Gibbs-White and McNeil had to be pulled apart, with both being shown the yellow card. Gray and Renan Lodi soon followed them into the book, and then it was Doucoure and Jack Colback who went head-to-head. Moments later, Tarkovsky was lucky to only get yellow for a late lunge that cleared Lodi.
Both sides will feel they had ample chances to win the game on a tense afternoon
Steve Cooper’s side put in an admirable performance after the World Cup and are likely to stay up there
Everton’s midfield – including Amadou Onana – spent most of the afternoon trying to frustrate the hosts
Gray’s penalty made the difference after half an hour – until Johnson emerged with a crucial goal
The Everton time waster had long since begun and it was striking to see Gray keep the ball in the corner with a quarter of the game remaining.
The odds were slim and when Forest found three to three, Gibbs-White missed his pass to Johnson and Ben Godfrey intercepted him.
Johnson had been the show’s best attacker and he demonstrated it again with a finish of splendid class to level Forest again with 13 minutes remaining. The Wales star carried the ball past Everton’s back four, trading passes with substitute Ryan Yates and calmly deflecting the ball into the top corner.
Forest boss Steve Cooper pushed his players back to the halfway line and his side finished the game stronger, with Andre Ayew – another sub – seeing a shot saved by Pickford, just missing the oncoming Johnson. Johnson then went for the hat-trick goal but narrowly missed the angle.
facts agree
Nottingham Forest: Navas; Aurier, Worrall, Felipe, Lodi; Freuler, Shelvey, Colback; Gibbs-White, Johnson; Wood
Substitutes: Mangala, N Williams, Lingard, Hennessey, Toffolo, Surridge, Yates, Dennis, A Ayew
Goals: Brennan Johnson (19′, 77′)
Everton: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Tarkowski, Godfrey; Iwobi, Doucoure, Gueye, Onana; Grey, McNeil
Substitutes: Holgate, Mina, Begovic, Maupay, Davies, Vinagre, Coady, Garner, Simms
Goals: Demarai Gray (10′), Abdoulaye Doucoure (29′)
