Everton Punish Wasteful Forest as Garner and Barry Seal Statement Win
So this one turned into a very uncomfortable night for Nottingham Forest, and a surprisingly satisfying one for Everton. Coming into this game, there was already a sense that things were starting to feel tense around the City Ground, and by the final whistle, that feeling had only grown stronger. Forest were beaten 2–0 by Everton, and it was a result that spoke louder than the scoreline itself.
On paper, Forest dominated. They had nearly 70 percent of the ball, completed far more passes than their opponents, and spent long spells camped in Everton’s half. But football is rarely decided by statistics alone, and this match was a perfect example of that. Everton arrived short on numbers, missing a huge chunk of their squad through injury and international duty, yet they looked sharper, calmer, and far more decisive when it mattered.
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After a slow and scrappy opening, Everton struck with their first real moment of quality. Dwight McNeil slipped a clever pass into James Garner, and the former Forest loanee did the damage. Garner wriggled past Morgan Gibbs-White and calmly found the far corner. Out of respect for the club where he once spent 18 months on loan, the celebration was muted, but the message was clear. Everton had arrived to compete, not to survive.
Forest tried to respond, but everything felt laboured. Crosses were delayed, runs were mistimed, and promising moves fizzled out before they became real chances. A free-kick from Oleksandr Zinchenko forced Jordan Pickford into an awkward save just before half-time, yet it was one of the few moments where Everton’s goalkeeper was truly tested.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Forest pushed, Everton waited. Chances came and went for the home side, but Everton’s defence stayed organised and stubborn. Then, with just over 10 minutes left, the game was effectively decided. Garner, who had quietly been the best player on the pitch, skipped away from Murillo and spotted Thierno Barry in space. The pass was picked perfectly. Barry’s first touch killed the ball, and his second sent it past John Victor.
That goal drained the stadium. Forest supporters headed for the exits, while Barry celebrated with a bow-and-arrow gesture that felt fitting in the city of Robin Hood. For Everton, it was a night to savour. For Forest, it was a warning. Dominating the ball means little if chances are not taken, and with a tough run of fixtures ahead, pressure is beginning to build fast.
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