Blues Lose To In-Form Forest

Everton tasted defeat for only the third time in 14 Premier League matches as goals in each half saw in-form Nottingham Forest come away from Goodison with a 2-0 win.

The Blues showed the effort and endeavour that helped them come into the contest on a four-match unbeaten run – including draws with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City – but they could not produce the quality in the final third to find a way past a Forest side who went second in the Premier League table after goals from Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White.

Armando Broja was handed his first Everton start as one of two changes for the final match of 2024.

The on-loan striker led the Blues’ attack ahead of Dominic Calvert-Lewin after coming on as a substitute in recent weeks following his recovery from a foot injury sustained prior to his summer arrival from Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Ashley Young returned at right-back, having served a one-match suspension for picking up five yellow cards for the 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Boxing Day.

Young replaced captain Seamus Coleman, who missed out on the matchday squad with a minor niggle sustained late on at the Etihad.

Forest were forced into a late change when centre-back Murillo was injured in the warm-up, Ramon Sosa taking the Brazilian’s place.

Fresh from his superb equaliser at City three days earlier, Ndiaye created the game’s first opportunity on five minutes, collecting a pass from Doucoure, elegantly turning to glide to just inside the Forest area before blasting his finish over the bar.

The visitors – seeking to equal a club record of five consecutive Premier League victories set in April 1995 – responded when Jack Harrison’s pass was intercepted, allowing Forest to counter and Wood to unleash a 20-yard half volley just past the left-hand post.

The Blues had a counter themselves with 15 minutes on the clock as Ndiaye zoomed through the middle but, with Harrison to his right, opted to go alone and was stopped in his tracks.

That proved costly as Forest went ahead moments later. A long ball over the top was nodded down by Wood, who received a header back from Anthony Elanga and looped his finish over Jordan Pickford.

Everton responded with a whipped corner from Young that was met by Branthwaite, whose header deflected off Nikola Milenkovic and spun over the bar, referee Tony Harrington giving a goal-kick.

As the half hour approached, Mykolenko and Broja combined in quick succession, leading to the Albania international placing headers just beyond the target on both occasions.

Mykolenko then swung in a peach of a delivery which was inches away from picking out Doucoure, only for Morato to make a crucial clearance, before Branthwaite made a marauding run from his own half that ended with the England international being dispossessed on the Forest byline.

The Toffees threatened again four minutes before the break as Doucoure gobbled up possession on halfway, moved upfield and with multiple options both sides, chose to slide in Mykolenko on the left who smashed his first-time finish wide.

And there were more chances before half-time when Broja cut inside and ran across the edge of the area, cracking a powerful low drive inches beyond the left-hand post, before Ola Aina found space in the Blues’ box and slid his finish just wide.

Dyche made a change for the start of the second half, Jesper Lindstrøm coming on for Harrison on the right wing.

Everton showed plenty of attacking intent early on but it was Forest who went close to doubling their advantage when the ever-dangerous Gibbs-White cut through the middle on the counter only to smash well over the bar from 20 yards out.

Goodison was in fine voice close to the hour mark, Ndiaye showing once again he has grit to add to his dazzling talent when he chased down Aina, won the ball and squared to Lindstrøm who curled his long-range shot wide.

But having battled to forge a way back into the contest, Forest were gifted a second moments later. Everton’s defence dallied collecting a loose ball, resulting in Elanga finding Wood whose pass across goal saw Gibbs-White take a touch beyond Doucoure and finish past Pickford.

Left with an uphill battle, Dyche made further changes as Calvert-Lewin and Nathan Patterson came on for Gana and Young, soon followed by Beto replacing Broja.

A succession of crosses from both flanks followed as the Blues desperately tried to respond, Branthwaite clipping in a pass for Beto to head at Matz Sels.

It was Forest who went closest as five minutes of added-time were signalled, Elanga taking advantage of Everton piling men forward for a corner to go clean through, only to be denied by Pickford before the England international saved again from the follow-up.