Garner Masterclass Leads Injury-Hit Everton To Forest Win

James Garner was outstanding – scoring a first-half opener and producing a sublime pass for Thierno Barry's second in Everton colours – to hand the injury-hit Blues a hugely-impressive 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

The odds looked stacked against David Moyes' men – already without the likes of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye – after Charly Alcaraz and Michael Keane were ruled out through injuries.

But the Toffees have shown plenty of fight since Moyes' return to the Club, and they displayed it again in abundance to register another away victory and take their points tally in 2025 to 59 – bettered only once since 2013.

Garner put Everton in front on 19 minutes when he collected Dwight McNeil's through ball and drove a low finish into the far corner. And he turned provider with 11 minutes remaining when his pinpoint pass allowed Barry to score his second Blues goal – having netted his first against the same opponents in the 3-0 triumph at Hill Dickinson Stadium earlier this month.

Already with a string of absentees to deal with, Moyes' squad options were further limited with both Keane and Alcaraz ruled out.

That meant a first Blues start for summer signing Merlin Röhl, who took the No.10 role after Jack Grealish could make only the bench following a virus. Meanwhile, Nathan Patterson was named in the XI for the first time this season at right-back, with Jake O'Brien moving to central defence alongside James Tarkowski.

The third change from the goalless draw at Burnley three days earlier saw Barry replace Beto in attack, with Under-21s striker Braiden Graham making his maiden senior matchday squad as a substitute.

Despite the growing list of missing first-teamers, Everton made a positive start in the East Midlands, former Forest loanee Garner whipping in a cross from the left for Tarkowski to plant a header into the arms of keeper John Victor.

There was no denying the Blues on 19 minutes, though. Iroegbunam did well to drive to the edge of the area, turn and play back to McNeil, who slid a fine through ball into the path of Garner. There was still plenty for the on-loan midfielder to do, but he made no mistake, angling a first-time finish beyond Victor into the bottom left-hand corner.

Advantage gained, Everton continued to look a threat on the counter, while showing resolute defending to head away a string of teasing crosses for both of Forest's flanks – Tarkowski, in particular, blocking everything that came his way.

The Toffees stayed strong at the back in the early stages of the second half but had a let-off just before the hour mark when Iroegbunam took a touch inside the area and was closed down by Igor Jesus, allowing the Brazilian striker to prod a finish inches wide of the post.

By this point, Moyes' men were having to deal with wave after waves of crosses but they threatened again with a swift counter on 67 minutes, Iroegbunam finding Barry wide right who, from the halfway line, did really well to slide a through ball into Röhl only for the young German to run out of puff as he looked to let fly with a shot from inside the area.

Another chance came five minutes later, the tireless Garner lofting in a cross from the left that Tarkowski nodded wide at the far post when well placed.

Soon after Grealish was brought on – Röhl moving to right-back in place of Patterson – the England international teed up Garner to smash a fierce drive within a whisker of the top right-hand corner.

The Garner masterclass continued – and it brought the second with 11 minutes remaining. The 24-year-old – who has rightly been catching the attention of England manager Thomas Tuchel this season – found space with an elegant turn past Murillo and caressed a sublime through ball to Barry who took one touch and produced a sweet left-footed finish into the back of the net.

It was Barry's second goal, and second against Forest, and was enough to secure a superb away victory for the gutsy Blues.