Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 win over Everton sent them into second place in the Premier League, as the European dream edges ever closer with every game passed. George Edwards was at the match
Nottingham Forest are halfway to the Champions League.
Three months ago, just across Stanley Park, Nottingham Forest pulled off the most unlikely victory against the unstoppable force that is Arne Slot’s Liverpool. A fairytale story that increasingly looks like a fairytale ending is destined for that same side, securing victory over the blue side of Liverpool and firmly letting the mind switch to flight mode; the first time Forest have beaten both Scouse sides away since the 19th century.
Forest’s European ventures are much spoken about and deeply cherished but have forever been associated with the past. The glory days, the Clough era, the untouchable period in Nottingham Forest history.
Supporters who remember those times remember them fondly, and those that don’t have been forced to listen, jealously, to these famous fables, never once considering that history would ever repeat itself.
Nineteen games into this Premier League season, the European dream is on.
There has been slight suspicion and light-hearted optimism that Europe could be a reality this season, but only with five consecutive wins and three consecutive clean sheets has the optimism became a concrete confession. And sitting in second place certainly helps.
Far have they travelled, much have they seen, Goodison and Anfield amongst the places they’ve now won. St. Mary’s, Old Trafford, the King Power too, by the boys in the red shirts from the City Ground.
Following their win at Goodison Park, Forest have now won 11 games in a season that hasn’t been without adversity, as no season in the top flight is. Injuries to their most creative players and a touchline suspension to their manager, things that would have hindered the Forest of the past two years.
But not this one.
Murillo injured in the warm-up. Callum Hudson-Odoi strained a step too far. Captain Ryan Yates unavailable. All ahead of a visit to a side Forest haven’t beaten since their Premier League return and who were unbeaten in their last four.
Step forward Nuno Espírito Santo’s Reds, fearless and fantastic, making the Toffees look completely average for 90 minutes, of which Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea have all failed to do in recent times.
Tottenham on Thursday, Everton on Sunday. Two teams with polar opposite playing styles made to look average by Forest’s red wall, clinching three consecutive top-flight clean sheets for the first time since 1992.
Forest have a knack of making teams play right into their hands. Many supporters feared the trip, with Forest — for once — facing a side who perhaps wouldn’t play into their game plan. The Reds forced Everton into 63% of unwanted possession, sucking every creative juice out of them and pouncing with two fabulous strikes.
The game was never going to be pretty but Forest relished that, still choosing their moments to pounce with counterattacking pace and individual quality from all involved.
Forest’s opener further proved the confidence flowing through every vein at the club and the feeling that they are unstoppable. A perfect flighted ball from Morgan Gibbs-White, two faultless headers between Chris Wood and Anthony Elanga, followed by an emphatic and exquisite lob from the striker, capping off a glorious move with the manager’s forward-thinking and ever-positive philosophy at the forefront.
Their second goal displayed that the risks they are taking are working wonders. Elanga gambling on the ball and getting to it first, followed by incredible composure from the same three that created Forest’s first, culminating in a fabulous far corner pick out from Forest’s fired-up number 10.
It could have been more, with Ramon Sosa’s strike before the break flying just wide and Jordan Pickford pulling off a triple save in the second half to keep the score line at a minimum.
While they may have blitzed Everton, Forest aren’t blowing every team away, but they don’t have to. They just knuckle down, dig in and get the job done.
They are a team of grafters, workhorses, with incredible mentality and willingness to give everything for the badge and the task in hand.
That’s something epitomised by Neco Williams in abundance. Absolutely nothing got past him, a brick wall on his wrong side, with Elliot Anderson in support, carrying out his defensive duties to a tee. Morato and Milenkovic in the middle headed and hoofed anything thrown at them, and that man Matz Sels was there for the one big moment he was needed for, securing his eighth consecutive clean sheet in his calm and collective yet dominant style.
Nottingham Forest have about done it all in 2024. Points deductions, relegation scraps, unlikely victories and now a sustained European push. Sit back, strap in and enjoy the ride in 2025 because Nottingham Forest are magic, and now they are letting the world know it.
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