Ashley Young stinks with 3/10, James Garner man of the match with 8/10 – Everton player ratings v Nottingham Forest
Everton claimed a huge 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground as Dwight McNeil’s screamer was enough to claim all three points.
It was a slow first half in terms of chances but Dwight McNeil thought he’d scored late on when he was one on one and beat the keeper with his shot, only for defender Murillo to clear it off the line at the last moment to keep the scores level going into the break.
But McNeil wouldn’t be denied and midway through the second half he controlled a Jack Harrison cross and rifled the ball into the top corner with his left foot to give Everton a deserved lead and ultimately all three points.
Here is how Goodison News rated the performance of each Everton player from the game.
Jordan Pickford – 5/10
Pickford didn’t have a lot to do as Forest failed to get a shot on target in the opening 83 minutes, but he came good when he needed to. England’s number one for a reason.
Ashley Young – 3/10
Young seems to be more of a liability than a help at right-back right now, and Nathan Patterson must be scratching his head at how he isn’t getting games. Rash in the tackle, beaten one-on-one too easily and wasteful in attack too.
James Tarkowski – 7/10
A real captain’s display at the back from the experienced defender. Won more aerial duels than anyone else on the pitch (8), had a 100% tackle success rate and made more clearances than any other Everton player too (7). Excellent.
Jarrad Branthwaite – 6/10
Tarkowski was excellent but Branthwaite wasn’t bad either. The youngster was good on the ball and marked Chris Wood out of the game for the most part in another fine display. No wonder the big boys are circling ahead of the transfer window.
Vitalii Mykolenko – 5/10
The Ukrainian has been in excellent form in recent weeks and he was steady enough in this game, although he wasn’t tested too much. He mostly kept Morgan Gibbs-White quiet though and that’s all we can ask for. Good stuff.
Idrissa Gueye – 6/10
The absence of Amadou Onana was always going to be felt, but Gueye’s combative performance in the middle made it easier to swallow this time. He made more successful tackles than any Everton player, won 100% of his aerial duels and overall did his job.
James Garner – 8/10
An outstanding performance from Garner, who dominated the centre of midfield in this game and is man of the match, even despite Dwight McNeil’s wonder goal. Fantastic on the ball, imperious defensively with more interceptions than anyone else and positive in possession. Top stuff.
Jack Harrison – 5/10
A really poor showing from the Leeds loanee. Harrison has started well in blue but this was his worst game as he struggled to beat his defender, completed just 54% of his passes and was mostly ineffective. Got the assist but overall it wasn’t his best day.
Abdoulaye Doucoure – 6/10
As usual that Mali midfielder was the biggest goal threat in the team without Dominic Calvert-Lewin being available, but he never got that clear-cut opportunity he needed to find the back of the net. He was combative in midfield and energetic off the ball though, in another good performance.
Dwight McNeil – 7/10
There is a reason that Sean Dyche trusts this man so much, and it’s because he knows exactly what is expected of him and delivers regularly. He was a big threat out wide and was unlucky not to score when his shot was cleared off the line in the first-half, but what a finish for the goal. Wow.
Beto – 4/10
If he wants to take the crown as the main number 9 at Goodison Park with Calvert-Lewin’s injury problems, then Beto has to do far better than this. Missed a couple of golden chances and was super wasteful in possession, completing just 55% of his passes.
Substitutes
Youssef Chermiti – N/A
In other Everton news, injury expert shares fresh calf problem for Toffees star.