Everton: Alan Stubbs raves over ‘unlikely’ Idrissa Gueye moment vs Nottingham Forest
Former Everton defender Alan Stubbs was delighted with the “unlikely” goal scored by Idrissa Gueye in Sunday’s (21 April) 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Gueye slammed home a 29th-minute goal to open the scoring in Everton’s crucial match against relegation rivals Forest, giving them the advantage in a game pitted by many as a six-pointer at Goodison Park.
Everton went on to win the game 2-0 in a controversial fixture and Stubbs was delighted with the “huge” moment for Gueye when speaking on co-commentary for BBC Radio Merseyside Sport (21 April, 2:00pm).
“It’s a great finish in the end. It’s probably gone to the most unlikely in terms of who you’d say is going to get the first goal, but it’s a huge goal for Everton,” he said.
“I think we’ve seen on occasions where Gueye has had a lot of chances, and they’ve gone over the bar or been miscued and you’ve gone ‘don’t shoot’; whereas if he can start shooting a little bit more like that we’ll be shouting for him to shoot every week!”
Everton ahead in vital relegation match v Nottingham Forest
It was a fantastic moment for Gueye to celebrate a rare goal for Everton and one that set the Toffees on course towards three huge points at Goodison Park to ease their relegation fears.
Gueye’s second goal of the season, his first at home for Everton since 2017 helped make the difference against their fellow strugglers and helped manager Sean Dyche to deliver a simple half-time message for the second half.
The Toffees’ 1-0 win over Burnley earlier this month brought a 13-match winless streak in the league to an end, and while that came in much more fortunate circumstances than Gueye’s opener, Dyche would certainly have been happy with the chance to give his team something to protect.
A lead of only one goal is never a safe scoreline, particularly given Everton were coming off the back of a 6-0 drubbing by Chelsea, but Dyche and BBC commentator Stubbs will both be delighted that Gueye’s strike and a second-half effort from Dwight McNeil was enough to claim three huge points in the fight for Premier League survival.
In other Everton news, the likelihood of the Toffees being successful in their latest points deduction appeal has been shared.
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