Gray’s goal- Dem touch
PINPOINT PICKFORD SETS UP
JORDAN PICKFORD proved himself a hero again at Goodison Park with a fabulous assist every bit as priceless as any of his top saves. And Frank Lampard saluted his keeper, admitting his ability with his feet rivals title-winning Brazilian keepers Edinson and Alisson at Manchester City and Liverpool.
The Everton and England star was the toast of the blue half of Merseyside last season with a wonder save against Chelsea that helped keep Everton up.
This time it came at the top end of the pitch for the Toffees against spirited new boys Forest.
The Blues keeper (far right) picked out Demarai Gray with a laser-guided pass with minutes left and Everton trailing 1-0.
Gray superbly controlled the ball and beat Dean Henderson with a low drive to send Everton fans delirious with delight.
Little wonder Lampard was purring about a weapon that yesterday proved so devastating when the chips were down. He said: “It’s not just an option, it’s a legitimate tactic for us.
“You watch Liverpool over the last six years or Manchester City, the best footballing team in Europe – they all play that pass and run into that area.
“There has to be a boldness in your game and the beauty of it was the run from Demarai and the finish.
“If you have a goalkeeper who can hit it hard and flat like that you have to use it.
“We had 19 shots, they take a chance and then it is hard when you have a lot of opportunities, it is hard to sustain that confidence. So it was good spirit to come back. When you ha home you expect t than one goal
“We should be m find those mom ruthless. You just n to be clinical a showed that for the
Pickford’s clear-h dragged Everton ba on a day when thei attack once again their unquestionabl
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playing with confidence and bravery and so nearly pulling off a memorable win.
In an end-to-end contest full of energy but little quality, Forest thought they’d stolen the points.
A cool 81st-minute finish by Brennan Johnson
(left), after Pickford could only push a shot from lively substitute
Ryan Yates into his path, looked decisive.
It capped off a tidy spell triggered by the arrival of £42.5m record signing Morgan Gibbs-white on the hour.
Cooper (above) was delighted with his side. He said: “We were the better team and should have won. We came to win and their equaliser was a poor goal to concede but I won’t lose sight of the good things we did.
“It is a disappointed dressing room, we feel like it’s a missed opportunity, but it is a first away point and our team looked good today.”
Forest have spent almost £150m on 16 players but Cooper defended the spree, calling it “catching up” with the rest of the league.
His biggest signing Gibbs-white made a splash with a cameo that promises better things on a day when Jesse Lingard failed to light a fire under Forest.
Cooper added: “He had a positive influence on others. There was a definite change in the game when Morgan came on.”
Two goals in three games show where Everton’s problems lie.
Until Gray struck there were few answers for Lampard as his side searched for their first win of the new season.
As for Forest, their opening games have encouraged fans who waited so long to be back at the top table.