Nottingham Forest 0 - 1 Everton [L]

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Barely 2 days after their last game, Everton travel to the City Ground tonight for the final Premier League game of the year, and its completion will conveniently mark the half-way point of the season.

It's another opportunity for the current Everton manager to test his wits against the previous Everton manager, with Sean Dyche going into this game a few places below Everton in the table, and a few home losses to make amends for.

If we thought the available squad had been pared down to the bare bones... well, three changes for Everton, with Merlin Röhl, Nathan Patterson and Thierno Barry all starting; Michael Keane and Charly Alcaraz are both out with injuries, Dewsbury-Hall,  Branthwaite and Coleman are still out injured; Ndiaye and Gueye are at Afcon.

Jack Grealish is on the bench, even though he is still ill, along with two goalkeepers and four Under-21s.

First Half

The Blues, all in blue, kicked off, Tarkowski doing the first punt upfield. Dibling worked well and Garner had the first shot, well over the bar. Dibling got the ball into the grinder again but it was cleared.

Igor Jesus looked to get past O'Brien but was called for handball when he chested it down. Dibling again danced around a few Forest players, but Everton not retain the ball.

Barry cleverly won the first corner, Garner playing it short, then crossing for Tarkowski but no power in his header to Victor. Forest got forward for a spell, the final cross picked out by Pickford. 

Barry was called for what looked like a good challenge, where he won the ball. But then he easily lost a ball that looked his and Everton were penned back. 

Williams put in a great cross that Tarkowski headed wide, then Hudson-Odoi tried a shot that was blocked. Forest won a free-kick and Forest kept probing but Gibbs-White could not cross the ball before it had gone behind the byeline.

McNeil put in a cross that flew over Dibling with Barry well out of position. Barry did some excellent work to keep the ball from Murillo and the play developed for McNeil to put in a difficult set-up for Garner but he took it perfectly, without even looking up. Great angled strike for the finish: 0 - 1. 

Everton looked to build another great move from the restart but McNeil was unlucky his dribble crossed the sideline. Forest attacked but the clearance saw McNeil give the ball away, however --- shot well wide. Hutchinson was next but his shot lost any power on its way through to Pickford.

Barry nodded a punt down for McNeil and Mykolenko's shot was blocked. Forest resumed their attack but it was repelled and Everton came forward but Barry lost the ball so easily, it was criminal. 

Forest were quick on the transition but Tarkowski and O'Brien were strong in Everton's defence. A good ball came over for Hudson-Udoi ghosting past Patterson at the far post but he messed up any shot.

Forest mounted another prolonged passing attack but Everton were defending solidly and in numbers. Everton tried to break out would lose the ball and have to fall back. An Igor Jesus header won a corner but Pickford caught it. More Forest crosses, more Everton defensive clearing headers, Mykolenko doing very well to clear one from Hudson-Udoi.

Tarkowski was expertly positioned to deny Igor Jesus. The ref was a real homer, giving soft fouls for Forest but nothing when Everton players were fouled. Zinchenko could not get one decent free-kick past Pickford.

A very effective half for Everton under the circumstances: Pinch a goal then keep it tight.

Nottingham Forest: John Victor; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Zinchenko; Domínguez, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Igor Jesus.

Subs: Sels, Morato, Awoniyi, Douglas Luiz, Kalimuendo, McAtee, Bakwa, Savona, Abbott.

Everton: Pickford, Mykolenko, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Patterson, Garner, Iroegbunam, McNeil, Röhl, Dibling, Barry.

Subs: Travers, King, Beto, Grealish, Aznou, Graham, Welch, Campbell, Bates.

For Evertonians not at the City Ground, the game is live on Sky Sports Cricket from 18:30 GMT

 

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