Everton 2-0 Nottingham Forest – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Dwight McNeil scores vital second for the Toffees

For all his faults this season, Beto has been really good since he’s come on.

He wins the ball, holds off Murillo before he is fouled by the Brazilian.

There will be nine minutes of added time though!!

Forest are pushing and haven’t given up, but this Everton side are dogged.

The visitors win a set piece but Pickford comes out and punches well before Williams takes a nasty fall over the advertising hoardings and into the crowd.

That looked nasty, but thankfully he’s sat back up and hopefully he’s OK to continue.

Branthwaite and Yates are booked for a scuffle, but Everton have looked good since that second goal.

A couple of dangerous set pieces cause problems, although Forest are just about OK to clear.

Harrison is now booked for halting a counter attack.

Eight minutes plus added time to come. It’s now or never for Forest.

Everton should be safe, in so many respects, now.

The importance of Dwight McNeil’s strike should not be underestimated, either.

This is only the second time in 16 fixtures in 2024 that Everton have scored two or more in a game.

What a goal from McNeil and the second time he’s scored against Nottingham Forest this season.

The former Burnley man has just tested Sels with another fierce effort.

It’s now a triple sub for Forest as Yates Ribeiro and Origi come on for Dominguez, Danilo and Hudson-Odoi.

The former Liverpool forward unsuprisingly receives a hostile reception.

What a goal! And what an outpouring of relief for Everton.

McNeil picks up the ball, he drives forward and plays a one-two with Doucoure.

The winger then fires an effort at goal and like Gueye’s first half effort, it goes all the way in, after clipping the inside of the post.

What a moment for Everton. They’ve had to soak up some serious pressure and haven’t really created much, but two great goals have them on the brink of taking a huge step towards safety.

Goodison Park has lift off!

Beto picks up the ball after Gueye snaps in to a challenge.

The ball comes out to Harrison and his cross is cleared by Williams, who gets a whack from Doucoure for his troubles.

The Everton man is booked as a result, in what is the first of this game.

It’s been a better five minutes for the hosts though, who are starting to exert some pressure.

Some good hold up play from Beto gives Everton’s defenders some restbite, but Sels collects Young’s cross from the byline.

Better though from the hosts, who come forward again yet Williams makes a great clearance for Forest.

Into the final 20 minutes now and the nerves around Goodison Park are only going to increase as we tick towards full-time.

A double change for Everton as Calvert-Lewin and Gomes are withdrawn for Beto and Garner.

A tireless display from Calvert-Lewin up top today, but he did receive treatment about 10 minutes ago.

Dyche will hope both subs will give them some more energy and regain control in this game.

It’s firmly all Forest right now, although Pickford is yet to be tested this half.

Nottingham Forest’s fans are singing about Anthony Taylor being “the Scouser in the black” and, you can imagine the howls of laughter that has brought from the home crowd.

There is no much fun in Everton’s performance at the moment, though, and they can consider themselves fortunate that Morgan Gibbs-White has just fluffed a glorious chance to equalise.

Another look at that Young challenge, and it’s yet another marginal call and one where if it was given, I don’t suspect it would be overturned.

This is a dangerous period of pressure though for Forest, who have looked good so far in the second half.

Gibbs-White is then in behind, he’s one on one with Pickford but he puts it wide!

What a chance.

Everton force a corner. McNeil hangs it towards the back post and there are bodies galore in there.

It drops for Calvert-Lewin in the six-yard box, but he fires wide.

He’s got to do better there but a reminder of Everton’s threat at set pieces.

Young then makes a superb last-ditch challenge on Hudson-Odoi after he was caught ball watching.

Forest want a penalty, but it looks like Young has got away with another one with VAR ruling in his favour again.

This game is starting to come alive…

First change for Forest.

The dangerous Anthony Elanga has been introduced for Gio Reyna, who struggled to get involved today.

Elanga’s pace will certainly provide another thing for Everton’s defenders to worry about, as supposed to Reyna’s more technical style.

Brilliant work from Mykolenko.

Hudson-Odoi is played in behind but the Ukrainian is hot on his tail and slows down the winger.

Branthwaite then heads away Hudson-Odoi’s cross with Gibbs-White waiting.

Everton are yet to really get going in the second half.

A quiet start to the second half as both teams ease themselves back into the game.

The Goodison Park crowd have gone slightly quiet, although they are woken when Branthwaite wins a crunching tackle on Gibbs-White.

You feel the Toffees need to get through the first 10-15 minutes here.

Everton get us back underway.

A huge 45 minutes in the relegation battle!

A decision that won’t help the mood of Forest, who are already angry at the way they believe they have been treated by officials this season.

NO, we won’t be registering that first half as a classic. It has been a war of attrition, one which Everton are winning thanks to a fine strike from Idrissa Gana Gueye.

The atmosphere has been hot, as you could well imagine, and given the depth of ill-feeling from both sets of fans towards the Premier League and the match officials is shining through.

Nottingham Forest believe they should have had a penalty when Ashley Young seemingly handled but nothing came back from VAR Stuart Attwell.

The response from Forest’s travelling contingent: “Anthony Taylor! It’s all about you!” It’s that kind of afternoon.

Everton defend well from three successive corners before half-time and Anthony Taylor blows his whistle.

It’s been an intriguing battle out there, with it evident both sides are slightly nervous with the magnitude of the game.

Everton have dominated much of the play, but their goal came out of nowhere with Gueye firing past Sels when he wasn’t closed down.

Despite their territory, they’ve yet to really create many other opportunities, but have dealt with Forest’s tricky attackers well.

The visitors did enjoy a good spell on the brink of the break and Pickford made a stunning stop from Wood, but it’s so far, so good for the Toffees, who are perhaps lucky not to have conceded a penalty too.

Plenty to play for in the second 45 though…

Forest want a penalty!

The ball goes to the back post and Hudson-Odoi plays it back across, but it strikes Young on the arm.

His arm was slightly away from his body and maybe he’s fortunate to get away with that one, but the defender was also about a yard away from the ball.

Anyway, Young and Everton survive again but Forest are enjoying a good spell of pressure here.

One of Nuno’s coaching staff has been booked for his protests about that decision.

The hosts need half time.

Plenty of time still to go though…

WOW! What a save from Pickford.

Gibbs-White fires at goal, but his shot is deflected.

It falls into the path of Wood just two yards out, but somehow the England stopper pulls off a stunning stop and keeps it out.

He celebrates like he’s won the World Cup and Everton survive.

A warning sign though!

Everton are looking more confident since the goal, but you can still sense the tension around Goodison Park right now.

Murillo almost suffers the embarassment of turning past Sels as he tries to intercept a pass, but it goes behind for a corner.

Everton have only scored more than one goal once in their past 15 games so they need to keep on attacking just yet.

They’ve definitely been the better team and shown more though.

What a moment and Goodison Park erupts!

WOW! Just as I say that and Everton have scored and what an unlikely goalscorer it is.

Mykolenko’s cross is cleared but it comes to Gueye at the edge of the area. He takes a touch, but no one decides to close the midfielder down and he arrows an effort past Sels and into the far corner.

What a moment for the Senegal star and that’s his first goal at Goodison Park since 2018 and just his sixth Everton goal in 166 appearances.

Forest then break up the other end and this time it’s Hudson-Odoi who has a weak shot on goal, but the England keeper unceremoniously fumbles.

Thankfully for Everton, he nips in just before Wood but an uncertain start to the game for the England No 1.

Everton are getting into good positions, but once they get towards Forest’s area, they don’t seem to sure what to do. Maybe they are wary about taking too many risks?

A moment of panic for Everton as Pickford scuffs his clearance straight to Gibbs-White.

However, Mykolenko does brilliantly to nip in and take the ball and the hosts clear.

McNeil then swings in a cross towards the back post, and Calvert-Lewin nods at goal, but his effort doesn’t have the power and Sels collects.

Forest are starting to enjoy a spell of possession, which is greeted by groans around Goodison Park.

Reyna goes down in the box under a challenge from Young, but nothing is doing and VAR wave it away after a quick check.

You can really sense the tension on and off the pitch, with both sides happy to knock the ball around safely, but lacking that killer pass yet.

Everton have definitely had the better of the play here and are passing it about nicely, but without the final quality so far.

Calvert-Lewin wins a free kick, but again Gomes takes the set piece and his delivery is absolutely woeful.

It barely gets off the ground and hits the wall, before Everton recycle it.

Mykolenko then tries an ambitious effort and it goes high and wide off Sels’ goal.

Good play from Gomes sees the midfielder win a foul after beating Williams to the ball.

He steps up to take the free kick, which is about 35 yards out on the touchline, but it’s another dreadful ball and goes over everyone and out for a goal kick.

That’s four set pieces and four below average deliveries so far. Dyche will be happy with his side’s start, but not that part of their game.

Everton force another two corners, but the delivery is poor from Gomes and Forest are comfortable.

The visitors are determined to start fast here and try and unsettle the home crowd, but the Toffees look solid so far.

Sean Dyche is also in a lesser-spotted tracksuit on the touchline today. Maybe an attempt to change his side’s fortunes?

Niakhate gives the ball away with a poor pass and Everton force a corner.

The Toffees have the most goals from set pieces this season, while Forest have conceded the most so this could be a pivotal battle today.

McNeil loops a ball to the back post and Taylor whistles for a foul on Wood, so Forest avoid an early scare.

Both teams are trying to ease themselves into the game.

It looks like Dominguez is sitting deeper for Fores, allowing Danilo to fly forward.

Gibbs-White then picks up the ball in a dangerous area and plays in Williams, but his dangerous cross is dealt with by Doucoure.

A few anxious groans from the home faithful as Williams then fires a shot which Pickford parries to safety.

Nottingham Forest kick us off…

The famous Goodison Park siren has rung and the players are out on the pitch.

A mammoth game is in store here, with these two teams the subject of eight and four points deductions respectively this season, leading to this clash being dubbed the FFP/Deduction derby.

Anthony Taylor is the man in the middle today and the atmosphere is electric.

With the FA Cup semi-finals taking place this weekend, we’re in the middle of a truncated Premier League gameweek, with just three games on yesterday.

However, there were two big clashes in the battle at the bottom, with Burnley beating Sheffield United 4-1 to keep up their slim survival hopes.

Meanwhile, in welcome news for Everton and Nottingham Forest, Luton suffered a hammer blow as they were thrashed 5-1 by Brentford at home, in a result that should almost certainly ensure the Bees don’t have to worry about the drop.

The other game saw Arsenal return to the top by beating Wolves 2-0, but that doesn’t really impact either team here.

Jarrad Branthwaite has also just been speaking to Sky Sports about the relegation battle and support of Everton’s fans.

It’s a big boost that he is fit today after picking up a knock against Chelsea.

Here’s what he had to say:

Everyone knows we went through a tough patch, not winning many games. It’s difficult but it’s part of football and you’ve got to get on with it. But we know the quality we’ve got on the pitch and we’ve just got to go and get three points.

It’s massive having that support, the fans help us every game home and away, especially at home now towards the end of the season. They’ll push us over the line and get the outcome that we all want, which is obviously staying up and winning as many games as possible.

Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood has just been speaking to Sky Sports ahead of kick off, discussing their form, today’s clash and the points deduction appeal hanging over the club.

Here’s what he had to say:

We’ve been working on improving and getting better and we need to show it consistently week after week. All these last five games are going to be huge no matter what. It’s an important one today for both clubs, but we’ve got to focus on us and how we play and then go from there.

As players, the points deductions don’t really impact us. We just focus on the pitch and the rest is down to the club.

It (the Goodison Park atmosphere) can be really good for them, but it can be really bad and they can turn on them. We need to make them do that.

There are few figures as popular at Goodison Park as Everton legend Peter Reid.

He spoke to Mail Sport’s Simon Jones this week about the season they’ve had, his Goodison Park memories and today’s huge clash.

Read the full interview below…

Chris Wood’s £15m arrival from Newcastle last January seemed to be another expensive mistake that Nottingham Forest have been all to guilty of since returning to the Premier League.

After three goals in his first 19 games, many had written the New Zealander off and felt his time at the club was over.

But since Nuno Espirito Santo arrived in December, Wood has been a man reborn and now has nine goals in his past 11 league matches to highlight his status as Forest’s unlikely hero of the season.

He blanked last time out against Wolves to end a four-match scoring streak, but his partnership with Morgan Gibbs-White continues to be Forest’s biggest threat.

The last time these two sides met was at the start of December when Everton were fresh off receiving an initial 10-point deduction – which was subsequently reduced to six on appeal.

A Dwight McNeil strike secured the victory, with the three points sparking a run of four successive wins for the Toffees.

They have actually only won once in the league since that run, which just demonstrates how tough this season has been for Sean Dyche and Co.

It was a well-deserved three points at the City Ground and you can catch up on that clash below…

Meanwhile, Nuno makes two changes from last Saturday’s feisty 2-2 draw against Wolves.

Dominguez and Niakhate replace Yates and Omobamidele, who both drop to the bench.

Reyna is rewarded with another start after his impressive display last week.

(4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Niakhate, Murillo, Aina; Dominguez, Danilo; Reyna, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Sean Dyche makes four changes from Monday’s horror show at Chelsea with Gana, Gomes, Harrison and Calvert-Lewin replacing Coleman, Onana, Garner and Beto.

It looks like the evergreen Young will drop to right back, with Coleman not making it today after picking up a knock on Monday.

Branthwaite and Calvert-Lewin are both fit to start in a huge boost for Everton.

Here’s how I think they will be lining up:

(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gana, Gomes; Harrison, Doucoure, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin

Like their opponents today, Nottingham Forest have faced a points deduction this season, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side the subject of a four-point penalty last month for breaching FFP rules.

They’ve generally improved under the former Wolves and Tottenham boss, rarely getting heavily beaten, but Forest have won just one of their past nine games in all competitions.

Forest will stay out of the relegation zone whatever the result today, but you feel now is the time to step up and start moving away from the relegation battle.

We’ll have team news in about five minutes time!

It’s fair to say Everton didn’t enjoy the best of days last time out against Chelsea.

Sean Dyche’s side put in a dismal perfornance at Stamford Bridge as they suffered their heaviest defeat of the season.

Dyche will be hoping that was just a blip, but you can catch up with highlights from Monday’s clash below, which included a stunning four goals from Cole Palmer.

What an opportunity today is for both sides to get some breathing space away from the bottom three.

A win would be massive in the battle to avoid relegation, while a defeat would only ramp up the pressure heading into the final weeks of the season.

A gigantic afternoon is in store…

And it’s great news for the hosts that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is with the squad after he missed their 6-0 thrashing by Chelsea through injury.

The England striker has started to recapture some form in recent weeks after a barren run in front of goal.

Sean Dyche will be needing a big performance from his talisman today.

And I must say, Goodison Park is looking an absolute picture today.

It’s a brilliant old stadium and will most certainly be missed when Everton do re-locate for the start of the 2025-26 season.

And welcome to Mail Sport’s live blog for this afternoon’s crunch clash between Everton and Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park.

It’s 16th against 17th as both teams look to pick up crucial points in the battle to avoid relegation.

Stay with us for all the build-up, team news and updates from throughout the match.