Everton Premier League win versus Nottingham Forest was yet another marking point in a relatively satisfying season by the Toffees as James Garner and Thierno Barry scored to reduce the hosts to a third straight loss and relegation threat. On a table where margins are still cut throat in all corners, the efficiency of Everton was matched by the control of the ball possessed by Forest, reflecting why his side of the table are shifting upwards whilst their rivals are still glancing over their shoulders.

Since the introduction, Everton demonstrated the sense of purpose that has turned into a brand of their recent streak. Initially they took in pressure, then they struck decisively whenever they had their chances. Garner, back on a turf where he used to do most of his promoting work, scored the first goal in the 19 th minute on a calm low shot following a cross to him by Dwight McNeill. It was a rich ambition to the midfielder, the first he had made since August and the second in over two years, but more could not have been its time or its value.

Their control mainly was not proficient in actual danger even though Forest had almost 70% of possession. Igor Jesus rejected their most promising initial clearance, and even in the moments of constant presence in the half of Everton, Jordan Pickford was not much troubled. A defensive-driven formation featuring the Tarkowski and Jake O’Brien was utilized by all the crosses and aerial balls and frustrated the Forest which was not very innovative and did not infiltrate in the last third.

The difference between the two teams became more different as the match continued. Trying hard, poking, annoying the ball, driving the numbers onward, but desiring an incisive thrust and decisive movement, Forest could not succeed, and found himself in an unhelpful wrong position. Everton in comparison were ruthless. Thierno Barry finally added to the visitor tally half way through a second half and, having been encroached upon by Garner, ran onto an ideally-timed through-ball to smash in the goal. It was the second goal since his PS27m transfer to Villarreal in the summer that Barry scored, and these two were fortuitous to come against Forest.

To Everton, this was much more than just three points in this win at the Everton Premier League. It saw them climb to the 8 th position, their fifth win in 9 games and they were only four points away, off, the top four in an incredibly crowded league table. Much to their relief, as David Moyes put it after the result, it was a matter of fine margins, which one outcome can change the league ranking radically. He emphasized that Everton have got to keep on hanging in, although there is a silent feeling that they might still attain European qualification as long as they keep the ball rolling.

In the meantime, the loss had ominous connotations to Nottingham Forest. A third consecutive defeat against Fulham and Manchester City has led to their halt and boiled down into a struggle against relegation. They were also short of the cutting edge needed in the Premier League even though they had control of the ball and territory. With his former club approached, Sean Dyche acknowledged that the difficulty was now in achieving consistency and that this was more so when it was time to play its former club which meant that expectation had switched to Forest to dominate.

To begin with, Forest needs to take care of their inefficiency. They could not convert pressure into goals despite the fact that they completed 245 passes in the last third, and had 52 crosses. Everton, in his turn, used only two through-balls but made both of them, whereas Forest used none. That statistic alone summarized what was going on between control and conviction on the night.

Dyche was anxious, however, not to be panicked. He prompted the viewers amidst the speed at which the stories twist and turn in football by noting that only weeks ago Forest were being its fans applauding their work. Nonetheless, the failure to retaliate after the very close loss against Manchester City begged the question of strength and faith. Having games at Aston Villa and West Ham within a very small time frame, Forest find themselves at a vital stage that would define the rest of their season.

It can hardly have been otherwise at Everton. The victory in the Everton premier leagues strengthened the image that the Everton Moyes team is turning out to be one of the hardest premier league sides to beat. The manner in which they are organised, their work rate, and their increasing confidence in their transition process has seen them become a threat to both the team above and equally to the team below them in the table. Though it might seem far-fetched to be a contender of the Champions League, the idea of trying to get into the Europa League or even to the Conference League does not seem unattainable anymore.

Lastly, the match was a reminder that being in possession does not win games. Clinical superiority coupled with the sturdy defending by Everton was the crucial factor on a night where Forest had possession but no solutions. With the season entering such a decisive period, the hard working Everton are slowly asserting their presence on something special, whereas Forest need to soon start re-finding their cutting-edge to ensure that they are not sucked further into the morass.

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