Nottingham Forest suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Everton at The City Ground this afternoon.
In a game of few chances, Abdoulaye Doucouré’s stoppage time strike proved to be the difference between the two sides.
The Reds are back in action next Monday with a trip to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
The visitors settled quickly at The City Ground, fashioning the first real opening of the match on 23 minutes when Iliman Ndiaye’s winding run ended with his effort being comfortable for Matz Sels to hold onto.
Two minutes later and Sels was called upon to keep the scoreline goalless when after a neat one-two on the edge of the Forest box, the Reds’ stopper was quick off his line to deny James Garner.
Forest came back with chances of their own when first Jota’s strike on goal was held by Jordan Pickford, before the Portuguese’s header was comfortable for the England international not long after.
In the final minutes of the first half, Callum Hudson-Odoi tested the Everton ‘keeper after making his way into the visitors’ box, only for Pickford to parry before the Toffees cleared their lines.
Half time: Forest 0-0 Everton
With play in the second half starting evenly, Hudson-Odoi fashioned Forest’s first chance, cutting inside and firing straight at Pickford, before Sels was quick off his line at the other end to deny Ndiaye one-on-one.
The two sides cancelled each other out for the majority of the half, with shots on goal less frequent.
With 15 minutes remaining Jack Harrison had a shot on goal on the turn which cleared Sels’ crossbar.
Chances remained few, but four minutes into added time at the end of the 90, the visitors claimed the points through Doucouré’s goal.
Forest are back on the road over the Easter weekend when the Reds face Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Easter Monday.
Full time: Forest 0-1 Everton
