Premier League Regular Season - 19
Nottingham Forest 0 - 2 FT Everton
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
J. Garner (D. McNeil) 19'
HT
46' ↓ N. Dominguez ↑Douglas Luiz
61' Douglas Luiz
62' ↓ Igor Jesus ↑T. Awoniyi
↓ N. Patterson ↑J. Grealish 72'
75' ↓ C. Hudson-Odoi ↑D. Bakwa
T. Barry (J. Garner) 79'
↓ T. Barry ↑Beto 85'
FT
Player Cards
Season performance ratings for players in this match
Nottingham Forest
Goalkeepers
John Victor 
SIEVE
33%
save %
33%
save %
2
conceded
1
saves
Defenders
Neco Williams 
ARCHITECT
4
key passes
4
key passes
0
assists
64%
pass acc
Nikola Milenković 
WALL
0
dribbled past
0
dribbled past
3
tackles
78%
duel win %
Murillo 
MAGNET
84
activity
84
activity
72
passes
12
duels
Oleksandr Zinchenko
ARCHITECT
2
key passes
2
key passes
0
assists
53%
pass acc
Midfielders
Elliot Anderson
MAGNET
135
activity
135
activity
117
passes
18
duels
Nicolás Domínguez
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Omari Hutchinson 
DRIBBLER
5
dribbles
5
dribbles
7
attempts
71%
success %
Morgan Gibbs-White
MAGNET
68
activity
68
activity
55
passes
13
duels
Callum Hudson-Odoi
DRIBBLER
5
dribbles
5
dribbles
5
attempts
100%
success %
Forwards
Igor Jesus 
SUNDAY LEAGUER
5.3
rating
5.3
rating
11
duels lost
4
poss lost
BENCH
Matz Sels 
SPECTATOR
0
saves
0
saves
0
conceded
0
minutes
Morato 
CAMEO
0
minutes
0
minutes
0
touches
None
events
Nicolò Savona
CAMEO
0
minutes
0
minutes
0
touches
None
events
Zach Abbott
CAMEO
0
minutes
0
minutes
0
touches
None
events
Douglas Luiz 
STORMTROOPER
2
shots
2
shots
0
goals
1
on target
James McAtee
CAMEO
0
minutes
0
minutes
0
touches
None
events
Taiwo Awoniyi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Dilane Bakwa
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Arnaud Kalimuendo
CAMEO
0
minutes
0
minutes
0
touches
None
events
Everton
Goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford 
OCTOPUS
6
saves
6
saves
0
conceded
100%
save %
Defenders
Nathan Patterson 
NPC
72
minutes
72
minutes
15%
pass acc
6.6
rating
James Tarkowski
WALL
0
dribbled past
0
dribbled past
2
tackles
100%
duel win %
Jake O'Brien
WALL
0
dribbled past
0
dribbled past
2
tackles
88%
duel win %
Vitaliy Mykolenko
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Tim Iroegbunam 
SWEEPER
2
cleanups
2
cleanups
2
interceptions
0
blocks
James Garner
ARCHITECT
3
key passes
3
key passes
1
assists
20%
pass acc
Tyler Dibling
SWEEPER
4
cleanups
4
cleanups
3
interceptions
1
blocks
Merlin Röhl
NPC
93
minutes
93
minutes
18%
pass acc
6.9
rating
Dwight McNeil 
PROVIDER
1
assists
1
assists
2
key passes
6.3
rating
Forwards
Thierno Barry 
SNIPER
100%
conversion
100%
conversion
1
goals
1
shots
BENCH
Mark Travers
SPECTATOR
0
saves
0
saves
0
conceded
0
minutes
Tom King
SPECTATOR
0
saves
0
saves
0
conceded
0
minutes
Adam Aznou
CAMEO
0
minutes
0
minutes
0
touches
None
events
Reece Welch
CAMEO
0
minutes
0
minutes
0
touches
None
events
Elijah Campbell
CAMEO
0
minutes
0
minutes
0
touches
None
events
Jack Grealish
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Callum Bates
CAMEO
0
minutes
0
minutes
0
touches
None
events
Beto
CAMEO
8
minutes
8
minutes
0
touches
None
events
Braiden Graham
CAMEO
0
minutes
0
minutes
0
touches
None
events
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/12/2025 | Everton | 3 - 0 | Nottingham Forest | Premier League | Hill Dickinson Stadium |
| 12/04/2025 | Nottingham Forest | 0 - 1 | Everton | Premier League | The City Ground |
| 29/12/2024 | Everton | 0 - 2 | Nottingham Forest | Premier League | Goodison Park |
| 21/04/2024 | Everton | 2 - 0 | Nottingham Forest | Premier League | Goodison Park |
| 02/12/2023 | Nottingham Forest | 0 - 1 | Everton | Premier League | The City Ground |
| 05/03/2023 | Nottingham Forest | 2 - 2 | Everton | Premier League | The City Ground |
06/12/2025
12/04/2025
29/12/2024
21/04/2024
02/12/2023
05/03/2023
Nottingham Forest Win
Everton Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 19 GD: +25
P: 19 GD: +26
P: 19 GD: +7
P: 19 GD: +4
P: 19 GD: +11
P: 19 GD: +4
P: 19 GD: +2
P: 19 GD: 0
P: 19 GD: +2
P: 19 GD: +1
P: 19 GD: -1
P: 19 GD: +4
P: 19 GD: +2
P: 19 GD: +1
P: 19 GD: -6
P: 19 GD: -7
P: 19 GD: -12
P: 19 GD: -17
P: 19 GD: -17
League Standings
P: 23 GD: +25
P: 23 GD: +26
P: 23 GD: +10
P: 23 GD: +7
P: 23 GD: +14
P: 23 GD: +3
P: 23 GD: 0
P: 23 GD: +3
P: 23 GD: +3
P: 23 GD: -2
P: 22 GD: -1
P: 23 GD: +2
P: 23 GD: -5
P: 23 GD: +2
P: 23 GD: -4
P: 22 GD: -7
P: 23 GD: -11
P: 23 GD: -18
P: 23 GD: -19
AI-powered match analysis and previews to help you decide which games are worth watching
Garner's Masterclass Exposes Forest's Possession Trap
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 26/100. Nottingham Forest controlled the pitch but lacked the killer instinct to punish Everton's defensive discipline, a lesson in why balance trumps volume in the Premier League.
The Ruthless Counter
Nottingham Forest arrived at City Ground as the architects of chaos—70% possession, 20 shots, eight corners—yet found themselves undone by the oldest football paradox: dominance without precision. James Garner had other plans. The Everton midfielder struck with surgical timing in the 19th minute, converting Dwight McNeil's assist into the net. Forest responded with wave after wave of attacks, but Jordan Pickford's six saves transformed the goalkeeper into an impenetrable wall. The intensity was one-sided; the outcome was not.
The Closing Act
By the 79th minute, Forest's frustration had curdled into desperation. Garner, operating with the composure of a man who'd already won the midfield battle, delivered the knockout blow—his second contribution of the night, this time as scorer rather than provider. Neco Williams fought valiantly for Forest's defence, registering four key passes in a losing effort, but even individual brilliance couldn't bridge the stakes: a 0-2 defeat that deepens Forest's relegation nightmare. They sit 17th with 18 points from 19 games; Everton climbs to 8th, their counter-attacking blueprint proving devastatingly effective in the chaos of the season's closing stretch.
The Verdict
This wasn't a display of superior football—Forest's xG of 1.82 versus Everton's 1.46 tells that story. This was a masterclass in efficiency. Everton took their chances; Forest didn't. In a league where margins are measured in goals, not possession percentages, that distinction proved fatal.
Key Questions
What made James Garner the Man of the Match?
Goal, assist, three key passes—Garner dictated Everton's rhythm with surgical precision, converting rare opportunities into a 2-0 away victory.
How did Forest lose despite 70% possession?
Everton's defensive discipline and Pickford's six saves neutralised Forest's 20 shots. Possession without conversion is merely possession.
What does this mean for Forest's survival hopes?
At 17th with 18 points, this loss intensifies relegation pressure. Defensive fragility and finishing woes are compounding problems.
How is the Futmetrix Score calculated?
The Futmetrix Score (0-100) combines multiple factors: match intensity, competitive balance, stakes importance, and entertainment value to help you decide if this match is worth watching.
Forest and Everton Fight for Scraps in Midtable Mud
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 44/100. Two sides treading water in the bottom half collide in a match that matters more for avoiding further damage than capturing momentum.
The Setup
Nottingham Forest sit 16th with just 12 points from 12 games—a goal difference of minus-seven tells the story of a team leaking chances it cannot convert. Everton are marginally better placed at 14th on 18 points, but their form is equally fragile. The Stakes are modest for a mid-season clash, yet both sides desperately need a win to arrest their slide. Forest's recent W-W-D-L-L sequence masks deeper structural issues; Everton's L-W-W-D-L shows similar inconsistency. This is a match where Balance shifts on fine margins—neither team has the attacking firepower to dominate, so defensive solidity becomes currency.
Key Battle
Morgan Gibbs-White versus Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the midfield duel will define tempo. Gibbs-White's three goals in four recent matches give Forest an attacking focal point; Dewsbury-Hall's two goals and assist in five games show Everton's creative spark. Whoever controls possession in the middle channels will dictate whether this becomes a scrappy affair or an open contest.
Our Prediction
Expect a cautious, low-scoring encounter. Matz Sels and Jordan Pickford will be busier than their outfield peers—both keepers have made 15+ saves in recent weeks. Forest edge it 1-0, absorbing Everton pressure and striking on the counter through Gibbs-White. Neither team has the quality to break down organised defence convincingly, so a single moment of precision decides it.
Key Questions
Should I watch this match?
Only if you enjoy tight defensive battles. This is gritty, low-quality football—better options elsewhere this week.
What's the predicted outcome?
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Everton. A single counter-attack goal decides a cagey affair dominated by defensive organisation.
Where are Nottingham Forest and Everton in the league table?
Forest sit 16th with 12 points; Everton are 14th with 18 points. Both are in the bottom half, fighting to avoid relegation trouble.
What is Nottingham Forest's current form?
W-W-D-L-L across their last five. Two wins followed by inconsistency—they're struggling to build momentum.
Who is the in-form player to watch?
Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest): 3 goals in 4 matches, 7.0 average rating. Forest's attacking lifeline.
How is the Futmetrix Score calculated?
The Futmetrix Score (0-100) combines multiple factors: match intensity, competitive balance, stakes importance, and entertainment value to help you decide if this match is worth watching.