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Everton claimed a fifth away victory of the season to move off the bottom of the table to within two points of safety, beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 at the City Ground.
How the match unfolded
Everton edged the opening period and came close to opening the scoring midway through the first half when Beto, back in the starting XI as a replacement for the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin, missed a great chance.
Forest ‘keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos spilled a cross in under pressure but the Portuguese forward could only sky the loose ball.
Forest started to get into the match and Anthony Elanga almost scored for a third successive match but his snapshot 10 yards out went wide.
Dwight McNeil was the player who came closest to registering a goal in the first half, but the Everton winger saw his shot beat Vlachodimos, but cleared by the retreating Murillo on the goalline.
Five minutes after half-time Forest defender Felipe hit the outside of a post after a goalmouth scramble from a corner.
McNeil was not to be denied midway through the second half to put Everton in front. A cross from Jack Harrison from the right found him at the far post, where he controlled the ball and sent a beautiful half-volley into the far corner for his first goal since May.
Forest huffed and puffed but hardly troubled Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal until the 86th minute when Murillo shot from distance but the home side's second shot on target was parried away.
Elanga then had another chance but could not get his shot on target.
Back-to-back home defeats leave Forest 15th on 13 points. After starting the match bottom of the table, the win lifts Everton to 18th with seven points, two from Luton.
Match officials
Referee: Paul Tierney. Assistants: Scott Ledger, Mark Scholes. Fourth official: Matt Donohue. VAR: Michael Oliver. Assistant VAR: Mat Wilkes.
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