Brennan Johnson the driving force behind Nottingham Forest's survival hopes
Nottingham Forest have signed 29 players this season, spending close to £200 million, but the local lad Brennan Johnson continues to enhance his reputation.
It might have been a slow start for Johnson in the Premier League fast lane, yet here was further evidence of how the Wales international is flourishing under the management of Steve Cooper.
Johnson now has five goals in his last four league games at the City Ground and, in a season of transition for the club, has been a regular influence in attack.
Everton are understood to have made at least one offer for the 21-year-old in the summer, when his contract situation was still to be resolved.
They must be sick of the sight of him now, after his fine equaliser extended Forest’s unbeaten run at home in the league. Cooper’s team have not been beaten in front of their own fans since September 16.
The partnership between Johnson and record signing Morgan Gibbs-White is evolving impressively and it is giving Forest a huge opportunity to avoid being sucked further into trouble.
Cooper’s reputation has been established on improving young talent and Johnson is another player who is benefiting from the experience.
Cooper said: “Brennan is on an upward curve and is performing really well. I don’t mind saying positive things about him because I see how committed he is and how much he wants to get better.
“He knows there’s still a long way to go but we’re really pleased with him. He loves the club, he’s a local lad who was born down the road.
“He had a rocky road before the World Cup break but that happens to young players. There’s levels he can still get to and as always it’s about continuing to improve.”
With Forest’s owner Evangelos Marinakis sitting in the director’s box, this was an absorbing advertisement for the Premier League’s basement battle, containing so much drama it almost felt like the final day of the season.
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.
Dyche needed a response after their capitulation at leaders Arsenal on Wednesday night and got it.
He said: “We're asking more questions and I see this result as growth. I feel the performances are getting better and stronger.
“You’ve got to have a method to what we’re doing and there’s very positive signs as to how the players are taking the game on.
“The challenge of the division is there for all to see. We’ve spoken about the mentality away from home and changing the story, but this was nearly the complete away performance.”
It was a captivating, bad-tempered game that only underlined how much survival means to these two sets of players.
Forest were nervy and hesitant from the start, and Jonjo Shelvey’s rash challenge on Dwight McNeil in the area was a clear penalty, with Demarai Gray putting away the spot kick.
The home team did respond, with Johnson equalising from close-range in the 19th minute after Jordan Pickford failed to hold Morgan Gibbs-White’s shot.
Everton regained the lead just before the half-hour mark after capitalising on further suspect defending, with Abdoulaye Doucoure heading in his first goal since Sep 2021.
Everton remained a threat on the break, but Johnson’s fine finish 13 minutes from the end leaves Dyche still waiting for lift-off.
