Everton secured a vital 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon, with Senegalese internationals Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye playing key roles in a hard-fought Premier League victory at the City Ground.
Dominating large spells of the contest, Everton produced a disciplined and assertive performance, finally breaking the deadlock in the dying moments of stoppage time.
Abdoulaye Doucouré delivered the decisive blow in the 94th minute, sparking wild celebrations among the Toffees’ travelling support and pushing the club ever closer to safety.
Both Gueye and Ndiaye were named in the starting eleven and contributed significantly to a display that suffocated the hosts’ rhythm.
The pair anchored the midfield with intelligence and physicality, helping Everton control possession and maintain territorial pressure throughout the 90 minutes.
Facing a resilient Nottingham Forest side that had been unbeaten in three, David Moyes’ men approached the fixture with intent.
Despite being frustrated for much of the game by Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels and a disciplined back line, Everton remained composed and persistent in their search for a breakthrough.
Everton created the clearer chances, pressing high and forcing errors, but were repeatedly denied by Sels, who produced a series of fine saves to keep his side in the contest.
Yet Forest, despite home advantage, struggled to impose themselves, and rarely tested Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal.
The breakthrough finally arrived deep into added time. A well-constructed move ended with Doucouré finding space in the box and rifling home, giving Everton a deserved lead just seconds before the final whistle.
The goal was not only a reward for Everton’s superior display but also a reflection of their patience and determination to secure maximum points.
With the result, Everton move to 14th in the Premier League table and sit 18 points clear of the relegation zone with only a handful of matches remaining.
The win significantly bolsters their chances of securing top-flight status for another season, easing the pressure as the campaign enters its final stretch.
The influence of Gueye and Ndiaye cannot be understated. Gueye’s composure in midfield and ability to break up play helped stifle Forest’s counterattacks, while Ndiaye’s movement and link-up play in the attacking third posed constant questions for the opposition.
Their contribution highlighted the value of experience and chemistry in tight encounters such as this one.
For Nottingham Forest, the result is a setback in their own fight to stay clear of the drop zone.
While they defended valiantly for much of the game, their inability to assert themselves in possession and mount sustained attacks ultimately cost them.
Everton will now look to build on this result, with momentum and confidence clearly growing.
As the Premier League season nears its conclusion, performances like these suggest that David Moyes’ side are peaking at just the right time — and with Gueye and Ndiaye leading the charge, their survival seems all but secured.
