Abdoulaye Doucoure struck a last-gasp winner as Everton stunned Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest 1-0 at the City Ground in the Premier League.
David Moyes would have been the far happier manager at half time after an energetic display from his players in the opening 45 minutes, albeit not one that translated into many gilt-edged opportunities.
Despite the introduction of Anthony Elanga early in the second period, Forest still found themselves under the cosh more often than not, although they were aided by Everton's wastefulness in the final third.
That was until the fourth minute of added time, though, as Dwight McNeil fed Doucoure to score the game's first and final goal, capitalising on a rare mistake from Murillo to win the day for the Toffees.
Everton have now leapfrogged Tottenham Hotspur into 14th place in the Premier League standings and are all but safe from relegation - 18 points clear of the drop zone - while Forest stay third but are now just two points clear of Manchester City.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Iconsport
That one will taste sweet for the Toffees. On the balance of play, Moyes's men deserved to upset the Champions League-chasing hosts, who were flat all afternoon despite the pleasing return of Chris Wood to the final third.
Jordan Pickford was called into action on a few occasions to work his magic, but Everton had far more bite in the final third, only to be repelled time and time again by the clearance machine that is Murillo.
However, the normally reliable Brazilian was culpable for the crucial moment right at the death, where Doucoure took his finish like a veteran number nine to end Everton's painful winless run.
Moyes's men had failed to triumph in any of their last six - drawing five of them - but they were full value for all three points in a game that was entirely forgettable before Doucoure's decisive moment.
On the other hand, Forest have now been beaten at home for the first time in 2025, and the manner of their insipid display will rightly raise plenty of questions for Nuno Espirito Santo.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS. EVERTON HIGHLIGHTS
90+4 min: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Everton (Abdoulaye Doucoure)
© Imago
Deserved.
Everton win it right at the death thanks to an incredibly uncharacteristic mistake from Murillo, who takes a heavy touch and is robbed of possession by McNeil, leading to a 3v1 counter-attack.
McNeil picks the right pass to Doucoure, who nonchalantly lifts the ball over the onrushing Matz Sels in front of the raucous away end.
MAN OF THE MATCH - ABDOULAYE DOUCOURE
© Imago
Yours truly was typing out his justification for Murillo taking home the man of the match prize when he made the fatal mistake - curse of the reporter - and Everton's match-winner rips the award out of the Brazilian's grasp.
At such a crucial moment of the game, Doucoure finished with the aplomb of a seasoned centre-forward, and the Frenchman also created two chances and completed 89% of his passes at the City Ground.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS. EVERTON MATCH STATS
Possession: Nottingham Forest 42%-58% Everton
Shots: Nottingham Forest 11-12 Everton
Shots on target: Nottingham Forest 5-5 Everton
Corners: Nottingham Forest 1-7 Everton
Fouls: Nottingham Forest 9-13 Everton
BEST STAT
𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝟎-𝟏 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) April 12, 2025
Doucouré's goal (93:03) was Everton's latest away winner on record in the Premier League (since 2006-07).
Forest's first home league defeat since November leaves their Champions League hopes looking rather less certain. pic.twitter.com/HwermFXOwz
WHAT NEXT?
A pair of heavyweight encounters are next on the menu for Forest, who travel to Tottenham Hotspur in two Mondays' time before a blockbuster FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City at Wembley on April 27.
Funnily enough, Everton's next fixture comes against none other than Man City next Saturday afternoon, as the reigning Premier League champions visit Goodison Park for the last time.
Ben Knapton
