Johnson Salvage A Point For Forest In 2-2 Draw With Everton
Brennan Johnson scored twice for Nottingham Forest to salvage a point against an Everton side whose display was “a great building block” in their Premier League survival bid, according to Sean Dyche.
The visitors had led twice but missed the chance to move out of the Premier League relegation zone.
Everton, who have won two of six games since Dyche was appointed manager in January, remain in the bottom three on goal difference behind Leeds United.
“I am pleased,” Dyche told BBC Radio 5 Live. “We are doing the right things and there’s been real commitment to the cause since I joined.
“It’s just the details now. We’ve got to stamp out the mistakes but we defended well and countered today.
“There was a lot of plusses about the performance. We know that we have to win games but you have to restart and this showed a really step forward.
“This was a really good away performance. It’s a great building block to carry on the journey with.”
In an electrifying contest, Demarai Gray put Everton ahead from the penalty spot following Jonjo Shelvey’s trip on Dwight McNeil.
But Forest were soon level. Toffees keeper Jordan Pickford parried out Morgan Gibbs-White’s shot and Johnson coolly slotted in at the near post.
Abdoulaye Doucoure restored Everton’s lead by nodding in from close range before half-time, but Johnson’s delightful curler into the top corner with 13 minutes remaining earned a point for the hosts.
Having seen fellow strugglers Bournemouth, West Ham and Leeds all lose on Saturday, Everton had an opportunity to move up to 16th in the table, but they left a rowdy City Ground frustrated.
And after losing their past three away games without scoring, the Toffees did show some progress.
Gray notched his fourth league goal of the season to become his club’s top scorer this campaign, while Doucoure’s header ensured they avoided going a club-record 14 consecutive games without scoring more than one goal.
And McNeil came close to adding a third before the interval but his long-range drive was brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Keylor Navas.
But their inability to win away from Goodison Park is costing them dear. Johnson’s late equaliser means Everton still have just one league victory on their travels this season, at Southampton on 1 October.