Jordan Pickford stuns BBC Sport pundit with ‘perfection’ to preserve Everton win at Nottingham Forest as Sean Dyche applauds
Jordan Pickford’s “brilliant” late intervention which thwarted Anthony Elanga to preserve a crucial Everton win at Nottingham Forest wowed Paul Robinson at the City Ground.
Speaking live on BBC 5 Live the former England keeper praised the current one for judging his dash from goal to “perfection” as he came out to block the home attacker’s advance and keep the score at 1-0 in the 84th minute.
Sean Dyche was left applauding as Pickford rescued the Toffees from a “real mess” at the back, as players were caught up the pitch and Forest threatened to level on 2 December.
Robinson said (7.14pm): “That was brilliant from Jordan Pickford. Everton got themselves in a real mess committing too many men forward.
“Caught on the break and Elanga looked for all the world like he was through one on one. Pickford was off his line so sharp, comes flying out.
“He ran the risk of giving away a penalty but he timed it to perfection. Fantastic from the England goalkeeper.”
Huge
It wasn’t especially pretty at the City Ground but in embattled circumstances the points were all that mattered and it took some vital work at both ends to secure them.
Dwight McNeil’s strike was the difference in the Forest box as he fired an unstoppable finish high into the far corner, but Pickford’s work in his own area was just as crucial.
The Toffees were unlucky to be on the wrong end of a deceptively heavy defeat against Manchester United on their return to action after the points deduction over the international break.
They got some luck back this time with a possible penalty shout against Abdoulaye Doucouré not given but on the whole it was the sort of battling performance that tends to be considered a Dyche hallmark.
With relegation rivals suddenly finding some form the battle against the drop might be on again, and with Everton dumped right into the centre of it by their profit and sustainability punishment, pending an appeal, it is going to need key men like Pickford to come up big.
He did so late in this win to preserve a three points that are arguably the biggest of the season so far given the circumstances.
In other Everton news, two key men were spotted in a “real screaming match” amid “absolute chaos” at the City Ground.