CarlingNet - No 1 for Match Reports

Everton v Nottm Forest 01/02/97 3.00

Everton                 (0) 2 Nottm Forest            (0) 0 FT
Ferguson 48                   
Barmby 67

Everton manager Joe Royle must feel as if he is in the Magic Kingdom after a much-needed victory today.

The home side went into this match desperate to avoid a seventh successive Premiership defeat.

But they were always in command against a Forest side, who remain relegation candidates after their second defeat in the space of a week.

Royle recalled England midfielder Nick Barmby to the side after he had been dropped for the 4-1 defeat at Newcastle in midweek.

But veteran goalkeeper, Wales international Neville Southall, again had to settle for a place on the bench.

Norwegian international Alf-Inge Haaland replaced flu-victim Nigel Clough in midfield for Forest.

Barmby responded by getting Everton's second goal after Duncan Ferguson had opened the scoring three minutes into the second half.

Everton chairman Peter Johnson said on the eve of the game it was no time for knee-jerk reactions, while Royle asked the fans to get fully behind him and the players.

The message seemed to have got home with one banner in the Bullens Road stand proclaiming `Royle In'.

Everton had enough chances in the first half to sew up the points but failed to make the breakthrough.

Forest keeper Mark Crossley had to look alert in the 22nd minute after a glorious move by the home side.

David Unsworth started it back in his own half and fed Gary Speed. He picked out Barmby, who released Stuart in the penalty area.

However Crossley, picked for the Wales squad this week, came out quickly to block his shot with his legs.

The Forest keeper again denied Stuart a couple of minutes later by parrying his effort after a huge clearance by keeper Paul Gerrard.

But Crossley was beaten by Duncan Ferguson's shot after Terry Phelan had played the ball in, only to see it drift wide of the post.

The home fans' frustration grew minutes before the break when Joe Parkinson hammered a 12-yard effort into the crowd after Ferguson put him clear on goal.

Crossley had another lucky escape on the stroke of half-time when he pushed an Earl Barrett shot on to the post after Claus Thomsen had flicked on a cross from Phelan.

Forest rarely threatened in the first 45 minutes, although David Phillips knocked the ball wide from ten yards after Stuart Pearce had gone on decoy run from Ian Woan's free kick.

The second half was only three minutes old when Everton got the goal they deserved for their possession. Stuart flicked on Dave Watson's clearance and found Ferguson.

He appeared to stumble but still managed to take the ball round Crossley and steer it into an empty net for his eighth of the season and his fourth in six games.

Stuart should have added a second after Barmby put him clear, but Pearce was able to get across and deny him the chance.

Barmby and then Gary Speed, with a rasping 20-yard drive, both tested Crossley before the England midfielder got the second in the 67th minute.

Unsworth supplied the cross and Ferguson got in a header which beat Crossley only to hit the post. Barmby was on hand to steer it home and seal a vital victory.