Nottingham Forest showed resilience as they came from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Everton at the City Ground.
Brennan Johnson cancelled out Demarai Gray's penalty in the first half, as well as Abdoulaye Doucoure's header in the second. The brace took Johnson's tally to nine goals in all competitions this season, while five of those were scored in the last four games.
It was also Forest's ninth game unbeaten at home this season, with the stalemate placing them four points clear of the 18th-placed Toffees.
READ MORE: Dyche in honest admission after Nottingham Forest draw
READ MORE: Forest sent mixed message as Johnson point made in Everton draw
Here is how the national media reported on the events at the City Ground...
BBC Sport, Shamoon Hafez
Brennan Johnson scored twice for Nottingham Forest to salvage a point against an Everton side whose display was "a great building block" in their Premier League survival bid, according to Sean Dyche.
The visitors had led twice but missed the chance to move out of the Premier League relegation zone. Everton, who have won two of six games since Dyche was appointed manager in January, remain in the bottom three on goal difference behind Leeds United.
In an electrifying contest, Demarai Gray put Everton ahead from the penalty spot following Jonjo Shelvey's trip on Dwight McNeil. But Forest were soon level. Toffees keeper Jordan Pickford parried out Morgan Gibbs-White's shot and Johnson coolly slotted in at the near post.
Forest have a similarly poor away record, but a record of just three home defeats is helping keep them out of the relegation zone. And they had top scorer Johnson to thank for extending their unbeaten league run at the City Ground to nine matches.
His first goal was an opportunistic effort, as he reacted quickest to slot in at the near post after Pickford was unable to push Gibbs-White's drive away from the danger area. His second was sublime. The ball fell to him in the box and he took a touch before caressing a delightful shot into the top corner
The Guardian, Peter Lansley
Brennan Johnson’s two equalisers enabled Nottingham Forest to extend their unbeaten home record to nine matches in the Premier League and deny Everton the first away win since October that would have lifted them out of the bottom three.
The Nottingham-born striker, now with nine goals this season, almost curled in a late winner on a day when Forest stayed four points above the relegation zone. "He only wants to get better," Steve Cooper, his manager, said. "He’s on an upward curve and he’s performing really well.
"He’s getting the numbers. I don’t mind saying positive things about Bren because he’s always working hard and looking to improve. He loves the club, grew up round the corner so it’s great to see him banging two in today."
Having both fallen to four-goal defeats last time out, this was a positive outcome for both sides. For the division’s lowest-scoring teams, this game was not scheduled to turn into the goal glut that the opening half-hour promised, and yet both will believe they have the momentum to retain their status in the top flight.
Forest, undefeated at the City Ground in the Premier League since September, proceeded to dominate territorially. Their pressure paid off when Morgan Gibbs-White intelligently dropped off the front into midfield, turned to play a one-two with Chris Wood and cracked in a 20-yard shot that Jordan Pickford parried for Johnson to turn in from close range.
Daily Mail, Tom Collomosse
As time ticked by and with Nottingham Forest starting to lose heart, Sean Dyche could see a clear route out of the bottom three. Yet nothing is ever easy with Everton.
In a game badly lacking class and composure, Brennan Johnson showed both with a brilliant finish 13 minutes from full-time. It kept Everton in the relegation zone and earned Forest a point that ensured they stay 14th, four points above the line.
Nothing is certain in one of the tightest survival battles in years but we can be fairly sure Johnson will not be involved in too many more relegation scraps. Though an exciting game, it was desperately low-quality stuff – but Johnson still shone amid the mess. Forest’s homegrown forward now has nine goals in all competitions this season.
Though this club signed 30 players in an attempt to banish relegation through transfer market power, a player who has been here since childhood is doing more than most to keep them up. Dyche would expect a similar impact from Dominic Calvert-Lewin but simply cannot keep his star forward fit.
This was the fifth game in a row that Calvert-Lewin missed and after giving opportunities to his other centre-forwards, Dyche chose to go without one here and largely, it worked.
The Independent, Jonathan Veal
Brennan Johnson’s double helped Nottingham Forest twice come from behind to earn a vital point in a 2-2 draw against Everton in a crunch clash at the bottom of the Premier League.
First-half goals from Demarai Gray and Abdoulaye Doucoure had put the Toffees on course for a third win in six games under Sean Dyche at the City Ground. But Johnson, who cancelled out Gray’s early penalty, ensured his side earned a share of the spoils with his second 13 minutes from time and kept Everton, and the other sides below them in the relegation battle, at arm’s length.
The Wales international is enjoying a hot streak as he took his tally to five goals in his last seven Premier League games, with an assist also thrown in. The draw also ensured Forest’s unbeaten run at home extends to nine matches, and the City Ground will be where Forest’s fate is decided this season.
Things had started promisingly for the Toffees. Dyche, who still lives in Nottingham, has spent plenty of time at the City Ground this season having watched several games and his side also felt at home as they started the better.
Their strong start was rewarded with a 10th-minute lead as Gray, handed his first start under the new boss, made an instant impact as he scored from the spot. Forest’s response was a good one and they only needed nine minutes to get back level.
The Sun, Graeme Bryce
BRIAN CLOUGH has his own statue in Nottingham city centre. Modern-day local hero Brennan Johnson might just follow in the Forest legend's footsteps one day after his double salvaged a precious point for Steve Cooper's side here.
Twice Everton hit the front to drag Forest closer to the drop zone - and twice Johnson hauled them away from it again with vital goals. Much has been made about Forest's spending spree over two transfer windows, but it's one of their own who is turning out to be their inspiration this season.
In an epic tussle which was more like an FA Cup tie than a Premier League match there were EIGHT bookings - three for Forest and five for the Toffees. But it was Johnson who provided the touch of class Forest needed to seize a late leveller and maintain their crucial gap between them and the Merseysiders.
With just four points separating the sides at kick-off this really was the proverbial six-pointer, which would go a long way to deciding the fate of these famous old clubs this season. But Forest couldn't have received the memo because it was Sean Dyche's Toffees who left them gasping as they made a blistering start.
The City Ground was no place for the faint-hearted with so much at stake and referee John Brooks often struggled to keep the peace between two scrapping sets of players - not to mention two particularly tetchy technical areas!
Sky Sports
Nottingham Forest twice came from behind to rescue what could prove to be a crucial Premier League point after a pulsating 2-2 draw with Everton. Goals weren't potentially on the agenda for many at the City Ground with both sides struggling to score in recent weeks, but a pulsating first half saw Demarai Gray give Everton the lead from the spot (10) after Dwight McNeil was fouled by Jonjo Shelvey before Brennan Johnson found an instant equaliser for Forest (19).
With so much at stake for both sides, the second half began in feisty fashion with tackles flying in and numerous bookings being dished out, but in the end, it was Johnson who kept his composure as his fine finish sealed a share of the spoils and stretched Forest's unbeaten run at the City Ground to nine matches.
Forest boss Cooper was delighted with his side's response, especially after their 4-0 defeat to West Ham last weekend as well. He told Sky Sports : "There's a lot to be pleased about. Obviously, we're disappointed with the goals we conceded. Everton started brighter than us, but I like the fact we came back twice in the game especially after what happened last week [lost 0-4 at West Ham].
"We definitely deserved at least a draw, but we also need to know we have to do better with the goals conceded. The draw sees Everton stay in the relegation zone and they remain four points behind Forest, who stay 14th. The draw sees Everton stay in the relegation zone and they remain four points behind Forest, who stay 14th.
Who was your Forest man of the match at the City Ground? Tell us in the comments section...
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