Both teams have suffered points deductions this season, feeling a sense of severe injustice, both sides massively needed the win. For Everton, It was a solid performance against a direct rival, and one that Everton fans rightfully celebrated. However Nottingham Forest decided to respond by what can only be described as having a meltdown. Was it justified? Maybe.
The two Everton goals were stunning, catching the Goodison Park faithful by surprise. The first, a surprise in Idrissa Gueye, the second Dwight McNeil – who has had a less productive season than was expected of him. This Everton win was long overdue, with the only win since mid-December coming two weeks ago against Burnley.
Now, the controversy, all 3 incidents involving fullback Ashley Young. An alleged foul on Giovanni Reyna and Callum Hudson-Odoi respectively as well as a ‘handball’ on the stroke of halftime. Admittedly, I have not seen them back since the game, but I do believe that at least two should have been given. In a huge game, Nottingham Forest, certainly have the right to be so distraught. However, the behaviour of their official social media accounts and the statements put out in the aftermath of the match, have been immature and were not thought through. I don’t believe a club has ever stated something along the lines of “We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn’t change him” before. The statements did not stop there with two more, one on Monday and one on Tuesday. Thankfully, they have finally taken a more mature response to the situation, requesting audio footage of the VAR discussions of the 3 incidents in question.
It is worth noting that Everton, like several other clubs have also been scammed by so many questionable refereeing decisions this season – it is not just Forest.
There has been so much drama surrounding these two clubs all season, when they met that was severely amplified. In the long term, all that matters is the 3 points for Everton, ahead of a midweek Merseyside derby.