The tricky trees of Nottingham welcomed The Toffees of Everton to the City Ground in the first encounter slated for Sunday in the Premier League.
Nottingham Forest went into the game with a 4-3-2-1 formation as Steve Cooper set up his side expectant of an amazing performance from his boys.
Nottingham Forest line-up
Keylor Navas started in goal, in defence Forest lined-up Serge Aurier, Joe Worrall, Felipe, Renan Lodi, Remo Freuler, Jonjo Shelvey, Jack Colback, Brennan Johnson, Morgan Gibbs- White and Chris Wood.
The visitors, Everton played a 4-5-1 formation as prepared by Sean Dyche with Jordan Pickford in goal, Seamus Coleman, Micheal Keane, James Tarkowski, Ben Godfrey, Alex Iwobi, Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Dwight McNeil and Demarai Gray.
Sean Dyche’s side kicked off proceedings and the game recorded a flying start for both sides as several chances fell to both teams in the opening ten (10) minutes of the game.
Everton scored first against Nottingham Forest
The side from Merseyside almost opened the floodgates of goals when a wicked cross from Alex Iwobi into the box of Nottingham Forest found McNeil. McNeil took a touch to create space for a shot but he couldn’t strike it.
Jonjo Shelvey fouled McNeil and the referee was left with no other choice but to award a penalty to Sean Dyche’s side.
Demarai Gray then played the resultant spot kick to give Everton the lead sending Keylor Navas the wrong direction in the tenth (10th) minute.
Forest responded nine minutes later
The tricky trees were tricky as they responded to Everton nine (9) minutes later as Gibbs- White off a one-two with Chris Wood smashed the ball towards goal but Jordan Pickford parried it to Brennan Johnson who slotted brilliantly past the Everton goalie.
Everton went back into the lead through Abdoulaye Doucoure as he nodded the ball past Keylor Navas in the twenty-ninth (29th) minute off cross from Kean.
On the forty-second (42nd) minute, John Brooks dished out the games first yellow card to Ben Godfrey following an heavy tackle on Brennan Johnson near the sidelines.
There was a big chance in additional time of the first half as Doucoure sent a low delivery through Steve Cooper’s side defense.
Demarai Gray responded to the cross but his side-footed touch was weak and it was eventually blocked by Morgan Gibbs White.
The first half finished with Sean Dyche’s side ahead of Steve Cooper’s side by a lone goal at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest got things started for the second half that was a bath of yellow cards in the first eleven minutes of the second forty-five (45).
Tempers flared throughout the second half with players going neck-and-neck at each other. Morgan Gibbs picked up the first yellow card of the second half and the first for Nottingham Forest in the game alongside Dwight McNeil.
Three minutes later, Rennan Lodi and Demarai Gray picked up theirs, a minute later, James Tarkowski was yellow-carded after a poor sliding tackle on Lodi.
In the seventieth (70th) minute, Steve Cooper’s intention of getting back into the game was laid bare as he brought on Ryan Yates for Jack Colback in addition to Emmanuel Dennis replacing Remo Freuler and Andre Dede Ayew coming on for Chris Wood.
The tricky trees became more direct with their play and they were rewarded for their efforts as Brennan Johnson scored his brace on the seventy-seven (77) minute as he played a pass to Yates who found him back in the box nicely positioned to smash home into the top corner.
Felipe picked up another yellow card for Nottingham Forest which basically tells how the second half went, the yellow card was for a late sliding tackle on Demarai Gray.
Sean Dyche’s side played second fiddle for much of the remaining ten (10) minutes in the game as Brennan Johnson came so close to scoring a hat trick five (5) minutes before the ninety.
The Merseyside side based club introduced two substitutes on the 89th minute as Neal Maupay came on for Demarai Gray and Tom Davies replaced Alex Iwobi.
The last yellow card of the game went to Tom Davies for dragging back Emmanuel Dennis, that yellow card to Davies made it the eight (8th) yellow card dished out by John Brooks in the game.
And after ninety (90) minutes, it finished how it started, the game looked like it deserved to end in a draw but Sean Dyche would be scratching his head looking to find the solution on how to take Everton out of the relegation zone.
Nottingham Forest are placed fourteenth (14th) after the draw and Everton sit eighteenth (18th), four places behind the tricky trees of Nottingham.
Match highlights
