Long-range strikes ease Everton fears but Forest to 'consider options' over VAR
Everton's Dwight McNeil (right) celebrates scoring their side's second goal. Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil scored with long-range efforts that should ensure that Everton extend their 70-year stay in the Premier League by at least one more season.
But it was a bitter defeat for Forest who saw three strong penalty claims - all for alleged infringements by Ashley Young - rejected by referee Anthony Taylor and VAR.
The two sides deducted points for breaching the Premier League’s PSR, financial fair play regulations produced a predictably nervous affair and consolation could come for Forest on Wednesday, when they hear the results of their appeal against their four-point penalty.
For Forest, who had taken the drastic step of appointing ex-official Mark Clattenburg as a club “referee analyst” two months ago, the frustrations at Goodison were the latest in a list of grievances Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have had against officiating this season.
After the game, a bizarre tweet from the Nottingham Forest official X account, said the club will now 'consider its options' and complained about the VAR allegedly being a Luton Town fan.
"Three extremely poor decisions - three penalties not given - which we simply cannot accept.
"We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times.
"NFFC will now consider its options."
A game low on quality, but high in stakes, saw Gueye shoot Everton into a first-half lead but Sean Dyche’s side required to survive the first two fierce penalty shouts by Forest.
Young was involved in both, either side of Gueye’s 29th-minute opener, as he first tripped Gio Reyna then appeared to handle Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross.
In both cases, VAR viewed the claims, with Stockley Park writing them off for, respectively, minimal contact and Young’s arm being in a “natural position.” But, to use the vernacular, we have seen “those given.”
Fortunately, for the mood around a tense Goodison, Dyche’s side just about deserved their first-half lead as Gueye struck at his home ground for just the second time, and the first since 2017.
Vitalii Mykolenko’s cross forced Ola Aina into a poor clearing header, which landed to Gueye 20 yards out. The midfielder took a touch and, with Forest slow to close him down, steered a low finish into the bottom corner.
There were plenty of scares for Everton, to add to the mounting tension, however, starting early when Jordan Pickford got in the way of a Neco Williams strike.
The England keeper came to his side’s rescue on 40 minutes, making a stunning reflex to keep out Chris Wood’s volley, as he met a Morgan Gibbs-White cross, with James Tarkwoski then blocking the Forest striker’s follow-up.
The second half started just as edgily for the home side, with Young surviving a third penalty claim after he bundled into Hudson-Odoi from behind as he chased a Danilo through ball.
Then Tarkowski made a mess of dealing with Murillo’s long ball, leaving Pickford stranded and presenting Gibbs-White with a chance which he flashed wide of the target.
The pressure was mounting, which made McNeil’s 75th minute goal all the more crucial.
Everton finally put the Forest goal under pressure as McNeil surged forward, playing a one-two with Abdoulaye Doucoure and unleashing a 25-yard shot which, as with the opener, flew low into the corner of Matz Sels’ goal.
One negative for Dyche was the worrying sight of substitute Beto being stretchered off, following a lengthy on-field delay, after an accidental clash of heads with Gibbs-White.
Pickford 7; Young 5, Tarkwoski 6, Branthwaite 7, Mykolenko 6; Harrison 6, Gueye 7, Gomes 6 (Garner 67, 5), McNeil 6; Doucoure 8; Calvert-Lewin 5 (Beto 66, 5; Chermiti 90).
Keane, Onana, Danjuma, Virginia, Godfrey, Warrington.
Sels 5; N Williams 7, Niakhate 6, Murillo 6, Aina 5; Dominguez 6 (Yates 79, 5), Danilo 8 (Ribeiro 79. 5); Reyna 6 (Elanga 53, 5), Gibbs-White 5, Hudson-Odoi 6 (Origi 79, 5); Wood 6.
Turner, Sangare, Toffolo, Montiel, Omobamidele.
A Taylor 6
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