The Toffees made the perfect start, striking inside the opening 90 seconds to seize an early advantage. A free-kick just 22 seconds into the contest immediately unsettled Forest, and although the visitors dealt with the first delivery, the danger lingered.
Kieran Dewsbury-Hall schemed down the left before checking onto his right foot and whipping a teasing ball towards the near post, where it deflected cruelly off the head of defender Nikola Milenković and into the net.
Everton were yet to lose after scoring the opening goal this season (W5, D2) and with that early strike, they looked comfortable for most of the first half.
Jordan Pickford was called into action to tip away Elliot Anderson’s strike, and that stop looked even more important when the hosts doubled their advantage on the break in first-half stoppage time.
Iliman Ndiaye won possession inside the Everton half and surged upfield before setting up Thierno Barry to stroke in his first goal for the club into the bottom far corner.
With Dyche’s words still ringing in their ears from HT, Forest began the second half with renewed vigour but found clear-cut chances hard to come by in a game that Everton were managing well.
Pickford’s tame punch almost gifted Forest a route back into the contest, but James Tarkowski positioned himself well to scramble Igor Jesus’ effort away from the line.
Everton looked to finish the game strongly, with Matz Sels at full-stretch to see off Ndiaye’s strike from the edge of the box.
That sustained pressure finally told when Dewsbury-Hall struck low through the crowded area, with Everton’s third on the day the midfielder’s third goal in his last four appearances.
That sealed a third win in four matches, lifting David Moyes’ side up into fifth in the PL table, while Forest are hovering just three points above the relegation zone.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kieran Dewsbury-Hall (Everton)
