Having been docked ten points for alleged breaches of financial restrictions, Everton lodged an appeal on Friday – just a day before travelling to Nottingham Forest’s infamous City Ground to dispute an important Premier League clash.
NFO: Vlachodimos; Toffolo, Murillo, Boly, Aurier; Yates, Mangala, Sangaré; Elanga, Wood, Gibbs-White
EVE: Pickford; Mykolenko, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Young; McNeil, Gueye, Garner, Harrison; Doucoure; Beto
Defeated by Manchester United last weekend in their first match since the points deduction, Everton arrived at the City Ground fuelled by a sense of injustice – but when Beto and then Dwight McNeil squandered golden first-half opportunities, Sean Dyche appeared visibly enraged on the sidelines.
It was McNeil who would eventually prevail as Everton’s hero though, arriving at the back post to slam home a half-volley after a tidy cross from Jack Harrison in the 67th minute.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut the action was far from over, and it would be Jordan Pickford who escaped with the Man of the Match award for his goalkeeping heroics in the dying stages – with the England international racing to deny Anthony Elanga and deny Murillo.
A loss piles the pressure onto Nottingham Forest’s Steve Cooper, as they fall to consecutive Premier League defeats on home soil. They’ll travel to Fulham in midweek as they try to rectify their current patch of form, while Everton host Newcastle United.
