Sean Dyche believes Everton’s confidence has grown due to their current outcomes towards a number of the Premier League’s greatest golf equipment, as they put together to face his former facet Nottingham Forest.
Dyche, who started his enjoying profession at Forest, has overseen a four-match unbeaten run for the Toffees, who beat Wolves 4-0 earlier than drawing with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis.
That they had Jordan Pickford to thank for his or her newest level as he saved an Erling Haaland penalty of their 1-1 Boxing Day draw on the Etihad Stadium, although Wolves’ win over Manchester United later pulled them inside three factors of the relegation zone.
After a dire begin to the season, Dyche believes his crew are in an improved spot, saying: “I don’t bear in mind too many instances once we’ve lacked pure confidence.
“We didn’t get off to begin, so many issues went towards us, a few of it our personal doing.
“However I don’t suppose it was a insecurity. In fact, confidence is pushed and constructed by time and getting the appropriate outcomes and proper performances, so I feel we’re in a greater place than earlier within the season.”
Forest, in the meantime, are flying excessive within the Champions League locations after beating Tottenham 1-0 through an Anthony Elanga purpose on Boxing Day, leaving Dyche impressed.
“I feel like most individuals, I’m impressed with what they’ve been doing,” Dyche stated of Forest.
“They’re fairly organised, engaged on the counter, they defend nicely and so they’ve introduced Chris Wooden to life, with the targets he’s been scoring.
“They’ve put collectively a really sturdy outfit and we’ve got to ensure we’re delivering.”
The 2 groups discovered themselves embroiled in a battle for survival final season, with Everton profitable their final assembly 2-0 in April – when Forest noticed three penalty appeals denied and later complained about refereeing requirements through their social media accounts.
Coach Nuno Espirito Santo, although, has witnessed an enchancment this marketing campaign, saying: “That is what’s regular. For my part, what occurred earlier than was not regular
“I feel we’re seeing a season of enchancment and we’re delighted as a result of what we needed is to play the sport and ignore every part else.”
“I hope it continues as a result of us coaches and gamers we don’t wish to take into consideration the referee, we simply wish to play soccer.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Everton – Jordan Pickford
Pickford has saved his final two penalties confronted within the Premier League, together with one from Haaland final trip.
Since he joined Everton forward of the 2017-18 season, solely Lukasz Fabianski (10) has saved extra spot-kicks within the competitors than Pickford (seven).
Nottingham Forest – Anthony Elanga
After a run of 28 Premier League video games with out a purpose, Elanga has now scored in every of his final three for Forest.
Two of his three strikes this season have been profitable targets – his earlier 4 Premier League targets had all are available in defeats.
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
Nottingham Forest have received their final 4 Premier League video games, final profitable 5 in a row within the prime flight between March and April 1995.
They beat Manchester United 2-1 of their closing league sport of 2023, final profitable their closing sport in consecutive calendar years between 2008 and 2010.
Their final journey to Merseyside noticed them win 1-0 at Liverpool in September. Of their complete league historical past, they’ve solely received away towards each Everton and Liverpool in a single season as soon as earlier than, doing so in 1898-99.
Nonetheless, no crew has drawn extra Premier League video games than Everton this season (eight). Every of the Toffees’ final three contests have completed degree, final having an extended run of consecutive attracts in September 2022 (4).
That is the primary time Everton are enjoying their closing league sport of a calendar 12 months at residence since 2015, shedding 4-3 to Stoke Metropolis on that event. In reality, they’ve solely received their final league sport in two of the final 10 years (2019 v Newcastle United, 2020 v Sheffield United).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Everton – 37.3%
Nottingham Forest – 34.4%
Draw – 28.3%
