Everton scored a late, late winner against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon to secure a deserved 1-0 win over Nuno Santo’s top four contenders.
Despite Forest sitting third and the Toffees in 14th prior to the match, David Moyes’ men performed incredibly well throughout the match, with the late winner by Abdoulaye Doucoure ensuring they headed back to Merseyside in a great mood.
Everton dominated possession throughout (58% to 42%) while registering 13 shots, claiming seven corners and taking 29 touches in the opposition penalty area, compared to just nine for the home side.
Doucoure has had his critics recently, but his goal to seal the victory will go a long way to redemption, that’s for sure.
Abdoulaye Doucoure's game in numbers vs Forest
The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, with his future at their new Bramley more Stadium rather uncertain at this moment in time.
Before the Forest clash, the Malian star had scored only two goals in the Premier League this season and not many expected him to pop up and net the winner on Saturday afternoon.
However, he popped up like a seasoned striker, bursting onto the end of Dwight McNeil’s counter-attacking pass to find the back of the net. His celebration? Rather cryptic, let’s put it that way, pointing to his head and then appearing to sign an imaginary piece of paper. Perhaps a new contract is incoming?
While the goal was vital, the midfielder completed 33 of his 37 passes – a success rate of 89% – took 50 touches, succeeded with 100% of his long balls and crosses into the box plus made a solitary tackle.
Will this display be enough to convince Moyes to extend his Everton contract for at least another season? Who knows, but he certainly bailed out a few players during the game.
Accurate passes
Mykolenko (51)
Key passes
Moreno (4)
Tackles
Garner, Anderson & Milenkovic (3)
Ground duels won
Anderson (7)
Shots on target
Ndiaye (3)
Everton star saved by Doucoure must be dropped
While many of Everton’s forward line have flattered to deceive this term, a certain Jack Harrison has been notably poor throughout the campaign and failed to influence the side again against a team chasing a Champions League place next season. As a result, he must be axed from the starting XI.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The winger had missed only four Premier League matches before the match on Saturday yet had registered only one goal and one assist during that time.
Those are hardly the best returns for the current Leeds United loan player, and he won’t be returning to the club next season. That’s a certainty.
Harrison did look lively in spells against Forest, delivering 14 crosses into the opposition’s penalty area, although only four were accurate. He even set up Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner for chances, yet both players missed their opportunities.
His antics going forward meant the winger lost the ball a staggering 25 times throughout the game. Given he took 60 touches, this works out as losing the ball once every 2.4 touches.
Journalist Chris Beesley gave the Englishman a match rating of 7/10 for his display, writing in the Liverpool Echo, notably criticising an effort he had that was blazed over the bar. It rather summed up his stint at Goodison.
Thus, with the man who replaced him, McNeil, actually registering the game-winning assist, perhaps it is the former Burnley man who should start instead of Harrison next time around.
Friedkin table offer in race to sign "perfect" £25m+ defender for Everton
They’ve had a response…
ByTom CunninghamApr 10, 2025
