Nottingham Forest 2 Everton 2: Brennan Johnson scores sublime double as Prem relegation battle ends in hard-fought draw
BRIAN CLOUGH has his own statue in Nottingham city centre.
Modern-day local hero Brennan Johnson might just follow in the Forest legend’s footsteps one day after his double salvaged a precious point for Steve Cooper’s side here.
Twice Everton hit the front to drag Forest closer to the drop zone – and twice Johnson hauled them away from it again with vital goals.
Much has been made about Forest’s spending spree over two transfer windows, but it’s one of their own who is turning out to be their inspiration this season.
In an epic tussle which was more like an FA Cup tie than a Premier League match there were EIGHT bookings – three for Forest and five for the Toffees.
But it was Johnson who provided the touch of class Forest needed to seize a late leveller and maintain their crucial gap between them and the Merseysiders.
With just four points separating the sides at kick-off this really was the proverbial six-pointer, which would go a long way to deciding the fate of these famous old clubs this season.
But Forest couldn’t have received the memo because it was Sean Dyche’s Toffees who left them gasping as they made a blistering start.
The visitors dominated the opening 15 minutes, enjoying 62 per cent of early possession and centre half Michael Keane having an early shot desperately blocked by comeback defender Serge Aurier.
Dwight McNeil was first to pounce on the rebound but the former Burnley winger fired over.
The City Ground was no place for the faint-hearted with so much at stake and referee John Brooks often struggled to keep the peace between two scrapping sets of players – not to mention two particularly tetchy technical areas!
Ben Godfrey was fortunate to escape punishment for a late and high shoulder charge on Johnson which smashed the Forest player in a meaty sandwich.
It was an action which would have risked a red card on the rugby field but in the red-blooded heat of this relegation battle it was deemed fair game.
However, Everton then hurt their hosts where it really mattered by snatching an early lead, thanks to a moment of rashness by Jonjo Shelvey.
Midfield warrior Abdoulaye Doucoure beat Jack Colback in the air but his shot was charged down by Joe Worrall and landed at McNeil’s feet.
Before the forward could get his shot off Shelvey poked out a toe and needlessly tripped his opponent and ref Brooks pointed to the spot.
Once VAR confirmed Doucoure had not used his arm to win his aerial joust it was left to Demarai Gray to face Keylor Navas from the spot.
And the forward repaid Dyche’s faith for handing him his first start under his management, by calmly sending Navas the wrong way to open the scoring.
Forest had not come from behind to win in 47 previous attempts so they needed to respond quickly, and to their credit they did.
Just nine minutes later they were level after they rocked Everton with a stunning equaliser.
Morgan Gibbs-White left his marker Keane to fill the hole behind striker Chris Wood and the Everton centre-half decided not to follow him.
That gave MGW the space he needed to collect the ball and play a cute one-two with Wood before rifling in a low shot which Jordan Pickford could only palm away at full-stretch.
And Johnson held his nerve to squeeze the rebound home from a tight angle to send the City Ground wild.
It was the local lad’s fourth home goal on the spin and Everton can’t say they weren’t warned as the Welsh international had also scored at Goodison earlier in the season.
Everton were briefly reeling and Wood flashed in a header which was deflected narrowly over.
But they weathered the storm and were soon on the front foot again.
Seamus Coleman claimed for a penalty after wriggling goal-side of Jack Colback and crashing to the turf.
But VAR agreed with ref Brooks’ decision that no offence had taken place as it was Coleman’s right boot which had initiated contact with the Forest midfielder.
However Dyche’s men were relentless and they seized the lead again just before the half hour mark of this titanic struggle.
Pickford launched a long free-kick to the far side of a packed Forest box and three headers later the ball nestled in the back of the net.
James Tarkowski won the first aerial duel to send the ball into the mixer, Keane was next to get his forehead to it, and Doucoure charged in to apply the finishing touch past Navas.
Dyche-ball at it’s lethal best!
It was the first time Everton had scored more than one goal in a Prem game since October and it was Doucoure’s first strike since the Mali international scored against Norwich in September 2021.
Yet it still wasn’t enough to see off a Forest side who have simply forgotten how to lose at the City Ground.
For a spell either side of half-time both teams seemed to forget about the ball as we were treated to football in the raw.
And ref Brooks was in danger of running out of ink in his pen as both teams tested his patience to the limit as they both clocked up a flurry of yellow cards.
There were tantrums, flash-points, and crunching tackles galore.
But it was Forest who had the last word as they hauled themselves level again 13 minutes from the end of the mayhem.
Felipe halted Doucoure in his tracks and sent the ball forward to Johnson who lent the ball to sub Ryan Yates.
And when it was returned to him he took one touch before sweeping the ball into the top corner past a helpless Pickford.
Forest pushed for a late winner but Pickford flapped away a goalbound effort from Andre Ayew before Johnson was a fraction away with a clipped shot which beat Pickford, only to drift narrowly wide.
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Here’s how the action unfolded…