With this being a clash of two sides that had averaged less than a goal per league game so far during 2022/23, it was perhaps a surprise to see both Forest and Everton on the scoresheet at the break. It was the Toffees that drew first blood just 10 minutes in, after being gifted the opener by Jonjo Shelvey’s clumsy tackle on Dwight McNeil inside the area. Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot, and Demarai Gray stepped up to fire high into the net after deceiving Keylor Navas into diving to his right.
But Sean Dyche’s side are in a relegation scrap for a reason, and held that advantage for just nine minutes, with Johnson equalising for the hosts shortly after, being on hand to steer home Morgan Gibbs-White’s rebounded effort with Jordan Pickford left stranded. The pendulum of fortune then swung once more in Everton’s favour midway through an enthralling first half, with Abdoulaye Doucouré marking his restoration to the starting XI under Sean Dyche by heading in a close-range ball that had deflected into midair off a line of red and blue.
See stats from the match at Flashscore
While the first half may have been a frantic end-to-end battle, the second period became a scrappy affair, with Forest trying to claw their way back into the contest once more. On the whole, Everton defended valiantly, but as has often been the case for the Merseyside outfit, a singular lapse in concentration would cost them. Dancing through the Everton backline, Johnson’s second of the match restored parity once again, lifting the roof off the historic City Ground.
A thorn in Everton’s side all afternoon, the Welsh international came within inches of netting what would’ve been a stellar hat-trick, but Johnson’s curling right-footed effort sailed just over Pickford’s crossbar. Despite missing the opportunity to go seven points clear of the drop zone, Steve Cooper’s side will likely feel more positive with the result, not least as they came from behind twice to secure a well-earned point.
Forest’s unbeaten home run stretches to an astonishing nine matches as a result, whereas for Everton, a first relegation to the second tier of English football since the 1950s edges ever closer.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest)
