Everton v Nottingham Forest: ‘Huge’ points appeal verdict issued for ‘massive’ Goodison Park clash
Everton and Nottingham Forest are both operating without the threat of losing more points this season for the first time in their “massive” clash at Goodison Park, says Paul Robinson.
The BBC Sport pundit said via the 5 Live Twitter account ahead of the game on 21 April that the clash of the two teams to be hit by sanctions this term was “huge”, and noted that both are now potentially facing their points totals increasing due to their appeals, which off the back of Luton’s 5-1 thrashing by Brentford a day earlier opens each side up to securing a major boost in the relegation battle.
Rob Edwards side are in the first of the relegation places, one point behind Forest and two behind Everton, but have played more games than both, so the opportunity is there to establish a gap to the drop zone.
Robinson said: “It’s a huge game for both teams. Forest have had an upturn in form. Everton we know, one win in 15 games, have struggled of late, struggled to score goals. It’s a massive game. They’re separated by a point, granted Everton have got a game in hand, but three points at stake today is massive for either team…
“For the first time this season for both neither have got any more points deductions looming over them. The one thing they may get is points back after an appeal, so more points today would be a huge boost to either team.”
The only way is up for Everton and Nottingham Forest
There have been some suggestions that it is possible for the points deduction appeals to result in an increased penalty, although that has been branded a “long shot” [i News, 19 April].
But after Everton successfully saw their huge 10-point penalty for the first of two charges this season reduced to six there is hope that the second two-point sanction could come down slightly as well.
It has even been mooted that fractional points could end up in the final league standings, which would be a novelty but in the circumstances little can be entirely discounted during a campaign that has arguably long-descended into a farce.
And if it makes the difference between spending next season in the Premier League or the Championship neither Forest or the Toffees are likely to turn down even 0.1 of a point, however unlikely that might be.
Sean Dyche’s side appeared to be the polar opposite of free from the fear of further deductions when they were trounced 6-0 at Chelsea last week, but the hope for the Everton boss has to be that the defeat in the capital was his side hitting rock bottom.
Back in front of the Evertonians at Goodison Park in a game against a direct relegation rival the stakes could hardly be higher so, after making clear to his players this week in crunch talks at the training ground that he has no intention of losing his job, he needs a significant reaction and a positive result.
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