Match Preview | Nottingham Forest v Everton

Was it a penalty and do we care? It’s interesting to see how after our last 2 matches the mainstream media have decided that Everton are the only club in history to benefit from VAR decisions. There will be a few thousand Evertonians that will gladly explain to you in great detail why that is not the case. Yet, regardless of your thoughts on if Harrison should have been given a penalty or not, a penalty was given and coolly converted by the returning Iliman Ndiaye. What was possibly more shocking than Harrison contributing to an Everton goal was that I predicted 1-1 in my Match Preview and for only the second time this season I was right.

Everton’s draw at home to Arsenal was made to look even more impressive following The Gunners demolition of Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night. It has to be said that despite drawing a lot of games in recent weeks, David Moyes’ Everton side never look out of their depth against the clubs at the top end of the table. Moyes’ only two league defeats since returning being narrow 1-0 losses that on another day could have easily been draws. There is a calmness surrounding the fans and players married with an expectation, that is often delivered, to fight and grind out performances and results. This trend will have to continue on Saturday when Everton travel to 3rd place Nottingham Forest, having faced 1st and 2nd place back to back.

On this weekend’s opponents, David Moyes said he isn’t surprised at the rapid rise of Nottingham Forest, the Everton manager said they’ve always been a ‘big club’ in terms of history. He mentioned in his pre-match press conference on Friday that Nuno Espirito Santo has done a great job to take them from where they were last season to where they are now this season. Many Evertonians will certainly be hoping that Moyes can do the same for the Blues next year at Bramley Moore Dock.

If You Know Your History… Everton v Nottingham Forest Through the Years

Everton fell to a 2-0 Forest defeat earlier in the season. Sean Dyche’s side lost at home to a Forest side on the rise. That defeat would be the only time Nottingham Forest has beaten Everton since returning to the Premier League in 2022. The recent form yielded 2 draws, followed by 2 wins for the Toffees before losing last time out.

David Moyes has never faced Nottingham Forest as Everton manager. The sides did not meet in any competitions during his first 11-years in charge of the club. The game this weekend sees a rare ‘first’ for the returning manager.

The overall form between the 2 sides does just about favour the Blues. 133 meetings in all competitions, with fixtures dating back to 1892, Everton have managed to best this weekend’s opponents 57 times. Forest added their 48th victory over Everton earlier this season and the 2 sides have managed to share the points on 28 occasions.

Team News

David Moyes believes Jeseper Lindstrom could be out for the remainder of the season, following a successful hernia operation. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is back on the grass but not likely to return ‘too quickly’ with the forward likely to still be out for another 2-3 weeks. Mykolenko is also back on the grass and could be in line for a return.

Nottingham Forest could receive a big boost ahead of the arrival of Everton this weekend. Chris Wood, Taiwo Awoniyi, Anthony Elanga and Alex Moreno could all return. Olaoluwa Aina is the only long-term injury for the home side.

What the Manager Says

Moyes on Not Managing to Visit the New Stadium- “I didn’t want it to get in the way of the work I’m doing right now. I do believe we will be a Premier League club in the new stadium and I’ll hope to get there this week some time.

Moyes on the Positivity Surrounding the Club – “I think it’s really positive that the players at the club are competing against Arsenal and Liverpool. Recently the players have stepped up greatly and been resilient. We have to find a niche for us to get results. In recent weeks and months we’ve been doing quite well.

Everton Key Player

Dwight McNeil – I suggested Iliman Ndiaye was the key player for Everton against Arsenal. The reality is now he is returning to full fitness he will be the main man in terms of creativity for the rest of the season. However, the brief McNeil cameo last weekend did show why he is a bright option to have in the squad. Everton’s set pieces and deliveries into Beto have not been great in recent weeks, McNeil can provide that outlet when on his game. It will be interesting to see how Moyes positions McNeil and Ndiaye in the same team. Sean Dyche abandoned the ‘Ndiaye behind the striker’ experiment pretty quickly and very few fans will want to see McNeil in the number 10 role. Yet with Lindstrom being out and Harrison needing to already be on a coach back to Leeds, this might very well be a question that Moyes has to address not just for the remainder of this season but for next season too… Provided McNeil is fit enough to start, I do see him being the main outlet for Everton this weekend. Clinical counter attacks are very much at the heart of what David Moyes is trying to do with this Everton side and so McNeil could be an injection of pace and precision that gives whoever starts up top something more fruitful. McNeil can serve a ball up on a plate for a striker, Harrison has been serving up reheated rollover hotdogs to the corner flag for far too long.

One to Watch for Nottingham Forest:

Chris Wood – The big target man for Forest hasn’t been seen since the International Break due to injury. Set to return this weekend we could see a tough afternoon for the Everton defenders. James Tarkowski is under the microscope for me at the moment. Whilst a clear leader in the Everton side his age and exuberance is at times costing us when composure and quicker reflexes are required. If Chris Wood plays tomorrow I’ll be putting my life-savings on Tarky getting another yellow card (gamble responsible). There is also a chance that Elanga returns for Forest this weekend, providing even more worry for Everton fans at the thought of Elanga supplying chances for the imposing forward. Chris Wood has enjoyed a renaissance this season. A journeyman who has done a job and moved on for much of his career finally looks like he has a home and a team that plays for him and his strengths. Everton will need to be at their defensive best this weekend to keep the big man off the scoresheet.

Final Thoughts

David Moyes has hinted that he might be looking to change the team around in the remaining weeks of the season. A chance to look at players he hasn’t had time to see in a real match setting. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see how ‘whole-sale’ these changes are and how they impact the recent run of results. On The Toffee Blues Podcast earlier this week I spoke about maybe benching Beto and allowing Broja to stake his claim for a return to Everton next season. Provided all options are fully fit, I’d also like to see Ndiaye, McNeil and Alcaraz getting a run in the side ahead of Doucoure and Harrison. I don’t see Moyes making that many changes but it would be great to see what a Moyes Everton 2.0 looks like with the handbrake off. Whilst not mathematically safe, now might be the time to see what the players can do when the risk of relegation is minimal.

Prediction

1-1. It served me well last week, so I will suggest another 1-1 draw against tough opposition. Weirdly, in the context of this season, Forest might be the toughest of the top sides we face during this tricky run. Desperate to keep hold of their spot in the Top 4 and well deserving of it based on their performances this season, Nuno’s side will arguably play like a side with a point to prove. That being said, I believe a well organised and disciplined Everton side will look to frustrate and contain the threats of Forest. I’d back Ndiaye to get another goal and Everton to salvage a point from behind.