David Moyes called it one of his team’s best results, and it was hard to argue. Everton arrived at the City Ground with what Moyes described as “nearly 30% of our squad out”, a thin bench, and a patched-up XI, and still walked away with a 2–0 win built on organisation, resilience and the kind of ruthless finishing that changes seasons.
“Great victory. Hugely pleased,” Moyes said afterwards, praising the players who came in and “haven’t played much football”. He knew the context, too. He had watched Forest against Manchester City and felt they played “incredibly well” and unlucky not to get something, and he expected the atmosphere here to “play a part”. It did. Forest were on top for long spells. Everton simply refused to break.
Since Moyes returned, Everton have been operating at 1.57 points per game, and this match was a perfect illustration of why. Today was not about dominating possession. It was about controlling the terms: defending properly, being brave in the right moments, and taking chances when they come. That is how you win away games with a depleted squad.
Forest had the lion’s share of the ball from the outset, moving it patiently and pressing Everton deep. Everton’s response was disciplined rather than desperate. Their defensive block stayed compact, their centre-halves held the penalty area, and Jordan Pickford organised relentlessly behind them. Moyes later pointed to Forest’s constant “crosses in the box” and admitted they looked “tempted to score” from them, but, he added, “they didn’t quite do it because we defended brilliantly well.”
The key moment of the first half arrived in the 19th minute, and it was pure Everton under Moyes. Dwight McNeil slipped a pass through, and James Garner ran onto it, finishing low and across goal. Moyes loved it. “His goal was terrific,” he said. “A good pass through by Dwight… and he finished it well.” It was the sort of away goal that quietens a ground not through shock, but through inevitability: one clean break, one clean finish, and suddenly the home side are chasing a game they felt they were controlling.
From there, Everton committed to the hard work. They defended in waves, kept the distances tight, and blocked Forest’s best routes into the box. The second half was particularly demanding, with Forest increasing the pressure and throwing on attacking options. Everton did not always get out, but when they did, it was with purpose rather than panic.
Garner became the match’s hinge. Moyes highlighted how he “wriggled out a tight situation” and then produced the decisive pass for the second goal. It was the most important detail of the night: Everton’s best moments were not hopeful clearances, they were composed actions under stress.
When Everton sealed it, it felt like the logical end to the way the match had been set up. Forest were committed forward, Everton found space, and Garner, now creator as well as scorer, slid a through ball into Thierno Barry’s run. Barry finished cleanly. Two chances. Two goals. Forest had the ball. Everton had the punch.
The away end celebrated like a group who understood the significance. Moyes did too. He spoke about the emotional scenes at full-time and said the celebrations were “quite right”, framing the win as part of a strong away record over the calendar year and as a valuable return from a tough run: “To get a point at Tottenham and take three today and take four from the two away games is a good return… really pleased with that.”
Moyes was also asked about Garner’s contract situation, with the midfielder out of contract in the summer. His answer was calm and telling. “I’m quite comfortable with the situation,” he said, adding he did not see “danger of anything happening in January”. He then spoke about Garner’s development, saying when he returned he saw “a bit of a boy”, but now sees someone “turning into a really good leader”, taking responsibility and happy to face top opponents.
Everton will not pretend this is sustainable without players returning. Moyes was candid: “We won’t be able to continue unless we start to get some of those players back.” But matches like this buy you time, points, and belief. They are the kind of nights that can shape a campaign.
Forest were dominant. Everton were decisive. Under Moyes, that is increasingly the difference.
