The Penalty Box Dancer
Player Valuation: £35m
Nottingham Forest vs Everton
6th February 2027
Thomas Partey went straight into the team after completing his loan move this week and he lined up next to Lars Samardzic. Alberto Moleiro was picked for duty despite this week Everton rejecting a big money offer from Manchester United for the winger and Moleiro was disappointed the offer was rejected. Jarrad Branthwaite picked up an injury in the gym after tearing his pectoral and was ruled out for a couple of months which saw Ben Godfrey come in alongside Igor Zubeldia and Chrislain Matsima. Beto was chosen up top to lead the line and talks seemed to have stalled over a new contract for the Striker who is free to leave in the summer. Everton needed to get a win against a struggling Forest side, they had their first shot on target when Moleiro came down the left beating Sanagre and playing it inside to Samardzic, Partey was in space and he got the ball and his shot stung the hands of Vlachodimos. Samardzic took the ball in the middle and played a delicate ball forward which Valle chased and took into the box from the left side, he shot from a tight angle and it found the bottom right corner, 1-0 to Everton! Everton were defending much better throughout the first half, it seemed they have got their act together since the Palace thrashing. Igor Zubelida was caught from a tackle by Talisca and had to go off just before the break. With no Branthwaite available, it was Onana to come on in defence. Everton won the ball back and Partey knocked it wide to Roony, he found Samardzic who was looking for the run of Beto but he didn’t make it so he went left to Moleiro, he came down the left side and put in a good cross which the keeper anticipated well. Everton made three changes with 20 minutes to go, Digne replaced Valle, Garner came on for Samardzic and Mead replaced Beto up top. Forest came forward with a few minutes to go and Digne done well to cut out the forward pass from Talisca, he played it forward for Moleiro to run on to, he went past Richards and played it forward for Mead, was he offside? Mead took the shot but the flag was raised anyway. Lucas Digne came very close in stoppage time to make it 2-0 but his left footed shot was just wide of the post from 20 yards out. Garner passed forward to Mead a couple of minutes later, he turned and played in Moleiro to his left, Richards got in before he could pull the trigger and cleared the danger. Everton just needed to see out the last minute, Talisca took in in the final third, he was under pressure from Partey and took the shot that Pickford took down and held well. Pickford took the goal kick but it was won back by Forest and the ball was moved forward quickly by Lewis-Potter, Talisca picked it up, this time with more space and he shot from 25 yards finding the bottom left corner, Pickford unable to get across, 1-1! A late, late equaliser! Duncan Ferguson was furious with the fourth official, extra time was allowed to be played that shouldn’t have been and it allowed Forest back in it. A deflating moment for Everton as they lose the three points.
Duncan, you defended brilliantly today but one lapse in concentration cost you.
DF: We have to play to the very end and at that point I was telling everyone to get back in, there’s no way Talisca should have been allowed that sort of space and we didn’t deal with it.
PLAYER RATINGS
LEAGUE TABLE
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6th February 2027
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Thomas Partey went straight into the team after completing his loan move this week and he lined up next to Lars Samardzic. Alberto Moleiro was picked for duty despite this week Everton rejecting a big money offer from Manchester United for the winger and Moleiro was disappointed the offer was rejected. Jarrad Branthwaite picked up an injury in the gym after tearing his pectoral and was ruled out for a couple of months which saw Ben Godfrey come in alongside Igor Zubeldia and Chrislain Matsima. Beto was chosen up top to lead the line and talks seemed to have stalled over a new contract for the Striker who is free to leave in the summer. Everton needed to get a win against a struggling Forest side, they had their first shot on target when Moleiro came down the left beating Sanagre and playing it inside to Samardzic, Partey was in space and he got the ball and his shot stung the hands of Vlachodimos. Samardzic took the ball in the middle and played a delicate ball forward which Valle chased and took into the box from the left side, he shot from a tight angle and it found the bottom right corner, 1-0 to Everton! Everton were defending much better throughout the first half, it seemed they have got their act together since the Palace thrashing. Igor Zubelida was caught from a tackle by Talisca and had to go off just before the break. With no Branthwaite available, it was Onana to come on in defence. Everton won the ball back and Partey knocked it wide to Roony, he found Samardzic who was looking for the run of Beto but he didn’t make it so he went left to Moleiro, he came down the left side and put in a good cross which the keeper anticipated well. Everton made three changes with 20 minutes to go, Digne replaced Valle, Garner came on for Samardzic and Mead replaced Beto up top. Forest came forward with a few minutes to go and Digne done well to cut out the forward pass from Talisca, he played it forward for Moleiro to run on to, he went past Richards and played it forward for Mead, was he offside? Mead took the shot but the flag was raised anyway. Lucas Digne came very close in stoppage time to make it 2-0 but his left footed shot was just wide of the post from 20 yards out. Garner passed forward to Mead a couple of minutes later, he turned and played in Moleiro to his left, Richards got in before he could pull the trigger and cleared the danger. Everton just needed to see out the last minute, Talisca took in in the final third, he was under pressure from Partey and took the shot that Pickford took down and held well. Pickford took the goal kick but it was won back by Forest and the ball was moved forward quickly by Lewis-Potter, Talisca picked it up, this time with more space and he shot from 25 yards finding the bottom left corner, Pickford unable to get across, 1-1! A late, late equaliser! Duncan Ferguson was furious with the fourth official, extra time was allowed to be played that shouldn’t have been and it allowed Forest back in it. A deflating moment for Everton as they lose the three points.
Duncan, you defended brilliantly today but one lapse in concentration cost you.
DF: We have to play to the very end and at that point I was telling everyone to get back in, there’s no way Talisca should have been allowed that sort of space and we didn’t deal with it.
PLAYER RATINGS
LEAGUE TABLE
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