Dwight McNeil scored his first goal of the season for Everton, helping them maintain their strong away record and narrowing the gap to two points from safety. This demonstrates that their determination off the field to fight against their 10-point penalty will also be reflected on the field.
The left forward made an impressive goal using the outside of his cleat in the middle of the second half, helping Everton secure their third consecutive victory in the Premier League while earning 13 points in seven away games. This win should give confidence to their fans that they can maintain their spot in the top division, even if their appeal for breaking the Premier League’s financial rules is unsuccessful.
Unfortunately, despite having 10 matches under their belt, Forest was unable to demonstrate the cunning and originality that their manager, Steve Cooper, desired. While their passion and determination may be admirable, it may not be sufficient if they are unable to rediscover their momentum, especially after losing their unbeaten home streak in the last two games. Upcoming matches against Fulham and Wolves will be crucial for Cooper and his team.
After the game ended, Everton supporters in the Bridgford Stand chanted “We shall not be moved”. Manager Sean Dyche is encouraging them to stay positive as they wait for the outcome of their appeal, which is expected next month. “What can we do while we wait for updates?” Dyche asked. “We talked with the players and reminded them that it’s not in our hands. We will focus on what we can control, including our mindset and performance.”
“I am very happy to secure our first win after receiving that news. It instills confidence in the fans, the team, and the players, who still need to consider the standings. We will have to wait for the outcome of the appeal, but for now, we must continue with our usual operations.”
During the first half, Everton seemed to struggle without Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was sidelined with a muscle injury. His substitute, Beto, attempted a half-volley that went over the crossbar, as Odysseas Vlachodimos and McNeil fought for the ball but failed to cleanly clear James Tarkowski’s long pass.
The team Forest made a comeback, as Anthony Elanga turned and shot narrowly wide, Morgan Gibbs-White hit the side-netting, and Felipe, who came on as a substitute in the second half for his first game of the season, pushed a shot against the post. However, they were unable to score until Murillo’s shot was saved by Jordan Pickford in the 87th minute.
They remained susceptible, as Abdoulaye Doucouré took advantage of the open space behind the Forest midfield. Murillo had to make a goal-line clearance from McNeil’s shot before the winger scored in the middle of the second half.
The team Everton persisted in attacking by sending numerous crosses, but the opposing team Forest put up a strong defense and cleared most of them. However, Jack Harrison passed to Idrissa Gueye and then received a return pass, sending a deflected cross to McNeil who was making a run from the other side. With little protection, the winger skillfully shot a half-volley into the top corner of the goal.
Ignore the advertisement for the newsletter.
after newsletter promotion
Dyche is familiar with McNeil’s skill from when they both played for Burnley. The manager remarked, “He has shown great dedication in his work ethic, which we expect from all our players. I am aware of his talent and he demonstrated it today, not only with his impressive goal, but also in other aspects of his performance such as his ball control and growing comprehension of the game. These abilities stem from his willingness to put in the effort for the team, and these are valuable qualities to possess.”
The Forest team took a risk by playing aggressively, using Callum Hudson-Odoi and Elanga as wing-backs and Orel Mangala as a defensive midfielder in a formation with three defenders. However, this type of game is where Everton thrives. They have a perfect record under Dyche when scoring the first goal and were determined to maintain that trend.
Source: theguardian.com
