Posted: 14:00, 20 August 2022 | Updated: 17:33, 20 August 2022
Demarai Gray became the first Everton player to score this season as Frank Lampard’s side salvaged their first point with a late rally at Goodison. Everton, whose only previous goal was an own goal by Aston Villa’s Lucas Digne, had that sinking feeling again when Brennan Johnson put Nottingham Forest ahead after 80 minutes. But England keeper Jordan Pickford, who perhaps fared better, redeemed himself with a superb 70-yard assist to Gray who slotted confidently past Dean Henderson with just two minutes remaining. Demarai Gray rescued a point for Everton with a well-taken finish late on Everton picked up their first point of the season after losing their first two games
EVERTON VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST MATCH & SCORES
Everton (3-4-3): Pickford 7: Holgate 6, Cody 7, Tarkowski 6; Patterson 6, Davies 6 (Onana 57 5.5), Iwobi 5.5, Mykolenko 7; Gray 8, Rondon 6 (McNeil 57 5.5), Gordon 6.5 Unused subs: Begovic (Gk), Coleman, Vinagre, Gbamin, Keane, Allan, Alli Target: Gray 88 Booked: Gordon, Iwobi, Onana Nottingham Forest (3-4-1-2): Henderson 7.5: Worrall 6, Cook 6, McKenna 6.5: Williams 7, Mangala 6 (Yates 55 7), O’Brien 7, Tofolo 6; Lingard 6 (Kouyate 84); Awoniyi 5.5 (Gibbs-White 61 7), Johnson 6.5 Unused rests: Hennessey (Gk), Biancone, Freuler, Gibbs-White, Dennis, Surridge, Dennis Goal: Johnson 81 Booked: Worrall, Williams Referee: Andre Marriner 6 Attendances: 39,271 After two defeats, Frank Lampard handed Salomon Rondon his first Premier League start since January. The hosts’ bright start was matched by Merseyside sunshine with Anthony Gordon looking lively amid speculation linking him with a Chelsea move. He let fly from 25 yards to meet a volley from Henderson, who then got down low to smother an Alex Iwobi shot. Tom Davies also made a hash of his finish when he was unmarked by the visitors at the far post after a set-piece. Forest made a decent start to life in the top flight after a 23-year absence and finally threatened when Pickford was called upon to save from Neco Williams and Taiwo Awiniyi. Gordon was fired up and the first booking was made when he caught Lewis O’Brien with a high challenge. Gray tried to catch Henderson by drilling his free-kick at the near post forcing the Forest keeper to block with his feet. Forest were forced into a change after 55 minutes when midfielder Orel Mangala limped off to be replaced by Ryan Yates. But there was much excitement minutes later when manager Steve Cooper sent signing Morgan Gibbs-White on his Forest debut following a £25million move from Wolves. Everton sub Amadou Onana was lucky not to leave early. He was booked for slipping on Awoniyi’s challenge and ruled that referee Andre Marriner did not show a second card when he fouled O’Brien. Anthony Gordon (R) was fired up and caused problems all game Morgan Gibbs-White completed a £42.5m move to Nottingham Forest this week Gordon was less involved in the second half but broke through again with a shoulder dive before firing home from 25 yards, bringing more acrobatics than Henderson. Yates’ shot was almost squeezed over the line by Forest through Conor Coady’s deflection. In the wake of the resulting corner, Gibbs-White showed plenty of skill on the line and Williams shot wide. The grumbles from the home side grew when another misplaced pass prevented Gordon from getting through on goal. And Forest took advantage of the bad mood by breaking the deadlock after 80 minutes. Brennan Johnson thought he had scored the winner for Forest ten minutes from time Jesse Lingard took a shot from outside the Yeats box and although Pickford saved the shot, the rebound went to Johnson, who cleverly opened his right boot to score his first Premier League goal. Forest fans taunted Lampard by singing “Sacked in the morning”, but the Everton manager would have been pleased with the reaction from his side. Gordon was denied the equalizer by a desperation block and then Pickford turned creator by pinging a perfect 70-yard pass to Gray. The winger showed great composure as Henderson tried to narrow the angle to reach home just inside the post. Follow Sportsmail’s live blog for updates on all the Premier League kick-off at 3pm this evening.
