Forest's Johnson scores twice in Everton draw

5 Mar 2023
Brennan Johnson scoresBrennan Johnson has scored nine goals for Forest this season

Brennan Johnson scored twice for Nottingham Forest to salvage a point against Everton, who missed the chance to move out of the Premier League relegation zone.

The visitors had led twice but the draw leaves them in the bottom three on goal difference behind Leeds United.

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.

Follow Sunday's Premier League actionEverton's away blues continue

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 away victory this season, at Southampton on 1 October.

Home comforts key for Forest survival

Forest have a similarly poor away record, but just three defeats at home is helping keep them above the relegation zone.

And they had top scorer Johnson to thank for extending their unbeaten run at the City Ground to nine without defeat.

His first goal was an opportunistic effort, reacting quickest to slot in at the near post after Pickford was unable to push Gibbs-White's drive away from the danger area.

His second was sublime. The ball fell to him in the box and he took a touch before caressing a delightful shot into the top corner

The draw means they have collected 20 of their 26 points in front of their own boisterous fans and that form at home could prove crucial in the run-in.

Player of the match

JohnsonBrennan Johnson

with an average of 8.04

Nottingham Forest

Squad number20Player nameJohnson

Squad number10Player nameGibbs-White

Squad number22Player nameYates

Squad number38Player nameFelipe

Squad number12Player nameNavas

Squad number4Player nameWorrall

Squad number24Player nameAurier

Squad number32Player nameRenan Lodi

Squad number34Player nameA Ayew

Squad number6Player nameShelvey

Squad number8Player nameColback

Squad number23Player nameFreuler

Squad number25Player nameDennis

Squad number39Player nameWood

Squad number11Player nameGray

Squad number16Player nameDoucouré

Squad number17Player nameIwobi

Squad number23Player nameColeman

Squad number7Player nameMcNeil

Squad number27Player nameGueye

Squad number2Player nameTarkowski

Squad number8Player nameOnana

Squad number22Player nameGodfrey

Squad number5Player nameKeane

Squad number1Player namePickford

Squad number20Player nameMaupay

Squad number26Player nameDavies

Line-ups
Nottm Forest

Formation 4-3-2-1

12Navas24Aurier4Worrall38FelipeBooked at 79mins32LodiBooked at 55mins6Shelvey23FreulerSubstituted forDennisat 70'minutes8ColbackSubstituted forYatesat 70'minutes20Johnson10Gibbs-WhiteBooked at 51mins39WoodSubstituted forA Ayewat 71'minutesSubstitutes5Mangala7N Williams11Lingard13Hennessey15Toffolo16Surridge22Yates25Dennis34A Ayew
Everton

Formation 4-5-1

1Pickford23Coleman5Keane2TarkowskiBooked at 57mins22GodfreyBooked at 42mins17IwobiSubstituted forDaviesat 89'minutesBooked at 90mins16Doucouré27Gueye8Onana7McNeilBooked at 52mins11GrayBooked at 56minsSubstituted forMaupayat 89'minutesSubstitutes4Holgate13Mina15Begovic20Maupay26Davies29Vinagre30Coady37Garner50Simms

Referee:John Brooks

Attendance:29,353

Match Stats
Live Text

Match ends, Nottingham Forest 2, Everton 2.

Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 2, Everton 2.

Attempt blocked. Serge Aurier (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Tom Davies (Everton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Tom Davies (Everton).

Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Amadou Onana (Everton).

Corner, Everton. Conceded by Joe Worrall.

Felipe (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Tom Davies (Everton).

Substitution, Everton. Tom Davies replaces Alex Iwobi.

Substitution, Everton. Neal Maupay replaces Demarai Gray.

Renan Lodi (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Idrissa Gueye (Everton).

Attempt missed. Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Morgan Gibbs-White.

André Ayew (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton).

Attempt saved. André Ayew (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Morgan Gibbs-White.

Foul by Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest).

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