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Alex Iwobi started and Emmanuel Dennis was a substitute as Nottingham Forest and Everton played out an entertaining draw
Super Eagles’ Alex Iwobi and Emmanuel Dennis were briefly at loggerheads as Nottingham Forest played host to Everton in the Premier League.
There was no victor and no vanquished as the sides played out a 2-2 draw at the City ground.
Nottingham Forest had to come from behind twice to secure a point at home against Everton as a brace from Brennan Johnson cancelled out Demarai Grey’s early penalty and Abdoulaye Doucoure’s effort just before the half-hour mark.
How it happened
In what was essentially a relegation scrap, Everton travelled to Nottingham Forest, hoping to improve on their recent form after back-to-back losses to Aston Villa and Arsenal in the Premier League.
They started with more desire than their hosts and soon took the lead after only 10 minutes when Demarai Grey converted from the penalty spot after Jonjo Shelvey was penalised for a foul on Dwight McNeil.
Everton were not in front for long as Brennan Johnson found the back of the net after taking advantage of Jordan Pickford’s loose parry in the box to score his sixth goal of the 2022/23 season.
The parity between the two sides also did not last long either as Abdoulaye Doucoure scored his first goal in 18 months to round off a frantic opening 30 minutes and give Everton a 2-1 lead against Nottingham Forest.
Nottingham Forest shaded the first-half possession, but Everton made better incursions into the opposition area and took a deserved 2-1 lead into the first-half break.
In the second half, Nottingham Forest showed the determination that has seen them win 20 points at the City ground and only six points on the road this season.
Despite entering the second half with a deficit, Forest piled pressure on their visitors and eventually found their equaliser when Johnson scored again with an unstoppable finish to restore parity a second time.
Everton were a shadow of themselves in the second half compared to the first half and were unable to muster more than one shot on goal in the second 45 minutes.
In the end, they were lucky to escape the trip to Nottingham Forest with a point that could end up being vital to their Premier League survival.
Nottingham Forest pulling away from relegation battle
The draw puts Nottingham Forest in 14th place, and although they are still only four points above the relegation places, it is a much better outlook for them than a few months ago when they were bottom of the table.
Everton on the other hand need to find better form soon as they sit only one point and two places above Bournemouth in 20th despite having played a game more than the Cherries.
Man of the match
Brennan Johnson was all that stood between Nottingham Forest losing and getting a point today. His incredible second goal was right out of the top drawer and was another pointer to the talent that Forest’s top scorer this season possesses.
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