Doucoure’s Stunning Late Strike Sees Everton Hand Forest Consecutive Losses

Abdoulaye Doucoure found the net in the dying moments of the match, scoring a 94th-minute goal to gift Everton a narrow 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, thus ending the hosts’ impressive nine-match unbeaten run at home in the Premier League.

Returning to the City Ground, Forest aimed to bounce back from their recent defeat at Villa Park, which marked the end of a six-match unbeaten streak across all competitions.

However, the home side struggled to find their rhythm in a rather uninspiring first half, with neither they nor Everton able to seize control as both teams trudged through to the interval.

This season, the Toffees have garnered a reputation as draws specialists, boasting a league-high of 14 prior to this encounter.

On this occasion, Everton enjoyed a better share of possession but failed to make significant inroads in the attacking third, presenting little threat to Matz Sels’ goal. Following the restart, a heightened sense of urgency was evident, suggesting that Everton were more likely to capitalise.

A ball over the top from James Tarkowski caught Forest’s defence off guard, forcing Sels into a quick intervention as he smothered the ball at the feet of Iliman Ndiaye.

It wasn’t until the final 30 minutes that Forest showed signs of life, but Morgan Gibbs-White’s snapshot was easily gathered, much to the dismay of the home crowd.

With Premier League survival nearly guaranteed, Everton pressed on without fear of conceding a counterattack. Neco Williams made a crucial block to divert a danger shot from Doucoure, while Jack Harrison’s attempt from 12 yards just clipped the crossbar.

With a distinct lack of attacking flair from both sides, a winning goal seemed improbable until Everton launched a counter from a Forest corner, with Doucoure keeping his composure to slot the ball home at the near post.

The defeat adds to the mounting pressure on Forest, who, despite still being in contention for a top-five finish and UEFA Champions League qualification, now face the heat following their second consecutive match without a win. Meanwhile, Everton’s victory marks their first since mid-February, allowing them to leapfrog Tottenham and level on points with Manchester United.

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