Everton's valiant display at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon was not enough to lift them out of the Premier League relegation zone as Nottingham Forest twice came from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw.
Demarai Gray handed the Blues the lead early in the first half with just a third goal of the Sean Dyche era before Brennan Johnson swiftly made amends at the other end as he drew his side level. Although a first Premier League goal of the season for Abdoulaye Doucoure looked like it would hand Dyche's side a hugely deserved three points, lightning struck twice as Johnson ensured his side would earn a share of the points with his second of the game 13 minutes from time.
For Everton, the point moves them up to 18th in the standings and leaves them trailing 17th-place Leeds United on goal difference. While Southampton and Bournemouth, the two sides propping up the table, have Dyche's side looking over their shoulders.
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Here's how the national media reacted to Everton's draw in the Midlands
John Percy, Telegraph
"With up to nine teams potentially in the scrap to avoid relegation, this type of frenetic encounter could become the norm in the chase to stay above the dreaded dotted line.
"This was despite the bewildering performance of referee John Brooks, who lost control of the game and frustrated both managers with his decisions.
"These are the moments when Sean Dyche excels, when points are precious and the pressure is building.
"Everton remain in the bottom three on goal difference but this performance included all the qualities required for the club to secure another of their great escapes.
"Three of Everton’s four goals under Dyche have now come from set-pieces, and there was no questioning the commitment or resilience from the players he inherited last month."
Peter Lansley, The Guardian
"Sean Dyche, back at his old stomping ground, was also content with a point after his well-organised side, leading through goals from Demarai Gray’s penalty and Abdoulaye Doucouré, succumbed to Forest’s impassioned second-half response in what was a feisty, niggly and exciting game. Everton have seven points from Dyche’s first six games.
"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.
"Perhaps Dyche, a former Forest youth-team player, resident of this parish and a regular attender at the City Ground during his time between jobs, felt more at home; certainly Forest were unduly accommodating hosts in the first half when they defended poorly. This was the first time this season Everton had scored twice in a first half."
Tom Collomosse, Daily Mail
"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."
Charlotte Ducker, The Times
"The title race may be close but there is so much at stake at the bottom of the table that, with six points separating Crystal Palace in 12th and Bournemouth in 20th, one result has the potential to change the whole dynamic.
"Frustratingly for Nottingham Forest and Everton neither could claim a crucial three points yesterday — but at least showed they were up for the relegation fight.
"Four goals, eight yellow cards, animated managers and players squaring up added to a draw that keeps Sean Dyche’s side in the relegation zone while Forest hover four points above it.
"The points were shared, and so was the managers’ frustration at the performance of John Brooks, the referee, at full-time. Dyche wanted a second penalty for a Jack Colback foul on Seamus Coleman in the first half, while Steve Cooper lamented a free-kick decision that led to Everton’s second and an advantage that wasn’t played when Brennan Johnson was through on goal in the second half . But Premier League status will be decided on their team’s mistakes rather than those — real or perceived — of the officials.
"It was a game that was high on the entertainment scale but lacking in quality, emphasising why these two sides find themselves where they are in the table. Both teams were guilty of being sloppy in possession while they squandered opportunities with poor decision-making.
"If they are to both stay up it is moments of decisive quality that need to be improved upon but neither manager can have an issue with the fight shown by their players. Eight yellow cards reflected the terse nature of the encounter. At least three times the players squared up to each other as they threw their bodies on the line."
Joe Thomas, ECHO
"As Everton's fans applauded their players on the final whistle a sense of what might have been will have filled the stands and the dugout.
"The performance at the City Ground was so different to so much of what has gone before when the Blues have left Goodison Park. For the first hour a display of bite and ferocity laid the foundation for what would have been a vital three points at the bottom end of the table.
"Yet familiar enemies - a lack of ruthlessness, strength in depth, a controversial decision and composure - once again conspired to undermine the Blues' survival bid. And after Brennan Johnson's late equaliser it was Nottingham Forest that looked more likely to land the knockout blow.
"Whether this 2-2 draw was a point gained or two points lost will only become clear in the weeks to come. But for a team that has produced so many toothless displays away from home over the past two seasons, there was genuine encouragement to take for a travelling support that has seen just two wins in 30 attempts in the Premier League."
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