Everton 1-1 Nottingham Forest: Demarai Gray cancels out Brennan Johnson's first PL strike to salvage unlikely draw

Demarai Gray rescued a late point for Everton in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park, leaving Frank Lampard's side still searching for their first win of the new Premier League season.

A late Brennan Johnson goal looked to have clinched all three points for Forest, before Gray raced onto a long ball from Jordan Pickford in the 88th minute to salvage an unlikely share of the spoils.

Johnson's 81st-minute strike, the product of debatable goalkeeping from Pickford who could only parry Ryan Yates' initial shot, heaped yet more pressure on Everton as they looked set to slump to their third consecutive defeat of the campaign.

But Gray's leveller made sure the Toffees were not to endure their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1990, although the single point still represents their fewest tally at this stage since 2010/11 (also one).

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Forest boss Steve Cooper, in contrast to Lampard's condemnation, rightly embraced the positives - having just won the club's first top-flight away point since 1999 - concluding that his side were "much the better team."

How Gray inspired Everton fightback

Down, but not out. Johnson's first Premier League strike dealt yet another significant blow to the fragile Toffees, who enjoyed the better of a wide-open first half that finished frustratingly scoreless.

Salomon Rondon almost put the home side in front early in the second with a stylish shot on the turn, but for all of Everton's productive forward play, they lacked a killer instinct.

Cooper gave a cameo role to debutante Morgan Gibbs-White, a day after the club record signing arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and he spearheaded a lively charge down the left that resulted in a drilled effort from Neco Williams that flew marginally wide of the mark. It previewed what was to come.

Johnson, who scored 16 goals in the Championship last term, reacted quickest to steer home a rebound from Yates' rebuffed shot as Forest looked set for their second victory in a row. Since the start of last season, Johnson has scored 20 goals in all competitions - the most of any Forest player.

Under fire Pickford, partly at fault for the opener, then launched the pass of the afternoon to send Gray on his way with two minutes of normal time remaining, as the winger confidently slotted the ball underneath an onrushing Dean Henderson.

Roared on by a buoyant home crowd, Everton went in search of a winner and they nearly got it when midfielder Alex Iwobi let fly with a stoppage-time shot, but his effort soared over the frame of the upright.

Lampard: Lack of ruthlessness cost us

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Everton manager Frank Lampard was left with mixed emotions after his side secured their first point of the new season:

"We had a lot of chances through the game - 19 shots - then they take a chance," he said.

"It's hard when you have a lot of opportunities and a bit of control to sustain that confidence, but it was good spirit to come back from the position of 1-0 down and get a point. The frustration is that generally, when you have 19 shots at home, you expect to score more than one goal.

"We wanted to win the game and I thought we deserved to win the game but I understand the bigger picture.

"If we'd scored in the first 20 minutes - we had enough chances - I think the game looks completely different. To be more clinical is to find those moments and be ruthless. Some players have that by nature, some not so much.

"When you have a moment when the ball is flying around in the box, you just need someone with that bit of composure in that moment to be clinical.

"To be fair, Demarai showed that for the goal."

Cooper: Sloppy goal to concede

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Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper was left to rue an opportunity missed after his side squandered a late lead at Goodison Park:

"Mixed feelings," he reflected. "I'm disappointed we've not won after going ahead fairly late on. We should be seeing the game out.

"It's quite a disappointing one. But at the same time we've come away from home and took the game to Everton and played really well.

"We got in between the lines well. I thought we could have provided more threat in the first half, because we've got players who can make a difference in those positions.

"That was the challenge at half-time, because I felt like we were getting enough service. We scored a good goal, in terms of the move, that's how we want to play.

"Pleased with the performance, but if I'm really honest I'm disappointed we've not won.

"It's a goal that we shouldn't be conceding at this level. I'm not interested who is at fault, because we do good and bad things as a team.

"But the overriding feeling is that we can't concede goals like that at this level. That's how it is."

Gray: Disappointed with a point

Goalscorer Demarai Gray said:

"We're disappointed to come away with just one point, we controlled the game and created so many opportunities but we switched off.

"The positive to take is obviously that we equalised. Last season we might not have come back so we showed character to take a point.

"Performance-wise we were good today, but nobody is fully happy with a point. If we keep playing like that, we will win games and we approach each game trying to win."

Analysis: Everton progress stunted without focal striker

Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:

"Frank Lampard is hamstrung. Everton will never be able to advance without a fully recognised striker. It's not for the want of trying, but while Dominic Calvert-Lewin - conspicuous by absence - remains injured it's hard to see how growth can or will be achieved at Goodison Park. Everton possess a very noticeable Richarlison-shaped hole.

"Lampard's side mustered 19 attempts against Nottingham Forest, but needed goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to provide the assist for Demarai Gray's 88th-minute leveller. Scoring goals cannot be left to chance in the Premier League.

"Anthony Gordon, who received a warm reception from the Goodison crowd following a week that has been plagued by exit rumours, was lively throughout but again lacked cutting edge. While Salomon Rondon, at 32, last registered a Premier League haul in December 2021. It's hardly an inspiring conversion rate. Everton's eight shots on target were shared between Gordon (five) and Gray (three).

"They were staring down the barrel of a third consecutive defeat prior to the latter's overdue intervention, which, in truth, was the product of some naive defensive positioning from Steve Cook.

"'You watch Liverpool and Manchester City, they all play that pass'," Lampard said of Pickford's punt that found the run of Gray. Well, that's about the only comparison you can legitimately draw between Everton and Liverpool or City. Most strikingly, it's the work both of those clubs have done in the summer window to address their No 9 vacancy, that sets them apart from the Toffees.

"The longer that void continues, the more costly it will be."

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