JORDAN A PASS MASTER
One-nil down after 88 minutes, then keeper picks lock
DESPERATE times require desperate measures so it was left to Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to channel his inner Kevin De Bruyne in order for Frank Lampard’s side to scramble a first point of the season.
Everton were staring down the barrel of a third consecutive defeat with only two minutes left when Pickford spotted Demarai Gray in space at the other end of the field.
Not many players, let alone keepers, could drill a perfect 60-yard pass in to feet, but Pickford did just that and Gray capitalised by showing composure to control and slip a low finish into the corner past Dean Henderson.
In an instant, Goodison swapped groans for wild celebrations. It felt more than just a point against newly promoted opposition and Lampard didn’t care that the assist went to his No 1.
‘It’s a legitimate tactic. If you look at Liverpool and Manchester City, the best footballing teams, they can all pass from different areas, right back to Alisson and Ederson.
‘When you have a goalkeeper like Jordan who can hit it flat as he can, you have to use it.’
The equaliser was met with great relief for different reasons. Gray became the first Everton player to score a goal this season — the team’s only previous success was an own goal by Lucas Digne.
Pickford will also feel redeemed for his part in Forest’s goal after 81 minutes converted by Brennan Johnson. The England goalkeeper had a decent game overall but didn’t get enough distance on parrying a shot from Ryan Yates, allowing Johnson to sidefoot the rebound. For Forest, it was further evidence that they are going to be competitive on their return to the Premier League after 23 years.
Manager Steve Cooper has signed 16 players in the window and the latest and most expensive, Morgan Gibbs-White, looked impressive after coming off the bench for his debut.
Both managers had reasons to be pleased with their performances. Goalkeepers Pickford and Henderson were kept busy throughout.
‘We should have won. We were the better team,’ said Cooper. ‘It’s a disappointed dressing room because it feels like a lost opportunity but we should remember it is our first away point. The performance was a lot better than it was at Newcastle and Morgan had an impact.’
Lampard also had something to cling on to. ‘We had a lot of chances, had 19 shots, and I thought it was good spirit to come back from going a goal down,’ he said.
‘If we’d scored first, it becomes a different game. I thought Anthony (Gordon) and Demarai were very mobile, we just need to be more clinical in certain moments.’
Following two defeats and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin still injured, Lampard gave 32-year-old striker Salomon Rondon his first league start since January.
To be fair, the home side’s bright start matched the Merseyside sunshine and Gordon showed why he is coveted by Chelsea.
He let fly from 25 yards to produce a flying save from Henderson and showed a more physical side to his game by catching Lewis O’Brien to earn a booking. Forest took 20 minutes to get into their stride but tested Pickford through Neco Williams and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Gray then tried to catch out Henderson by drilling his free-kick to the near post, forcing the Forest goalkeeper to block with his legs. Forest were forced to make a change after 55 minutes when midfielder Orel Mangala limped off to be replaced by Ryan Yates.
But there was great excitement a few minutes later when GibbsWhite was introduced for the first time since his £25million move. Everton sub Amadou Onana was fortunate not to depart early. After being booked as he slipped in challenging Awoniyi, he relied on referee Andre Marriner not
showing a second card when he untidily bundled over O’Brien.
Gordon was less involved in the second half. He burst into life again with a dip of the shoulder before shooting from 25 yards, bringing more acrobatics from Henderson, but in general Forest were in the ascendancy.
Yates nearly scored via a deflection off Conor Coady and Williams went close from 25 yards. Groans started to emanate from the Gwladys Street End and Forest capitalised. Jesse Lingard teed up Yates for a shot from outside the box and, though Pickford got fingertips to the ball, it fell for young Wales international Johnson, who opened up his right boot to sidefoot his first Premier League goal.
Forest fans mocked Lampard by singing ‘sacked in the morning’ but the Everton manager would have been delighted with the reaction.
Gordon was denied an equaliser by a desperate block and then Pickford turned creator for the late leveller. More bad news for Forest is that new boy Moussa Niakhate is facing months on the sidelines after a thigh injury sustained last week against West Ham. ‘He is out for a few months,’ said Cooper.