Nottingham Forest 0-1 Everton: Abdoulaye Doucoure’s last-gasp winner strikes huge blow into hosts’ Champions League hopes

Just when they need to sprint for the line, Nottingham Forest’s bid for Champions League football is starting to falter.

Forest remain third but are starting to feel the breath of their pursuers on their necks. Both Manchester City and Aston Villa won earlier in the day and if Chelsea and Newcastle do the same on Sunday, only two points will separate Forest from the team in sixth place, with five to qualify for Europe’s principal club competition.

Boss Nuno Espirito Santo hinted nerves may have played their part in the stoppage-time defeat by Everton. ‘You cannot get away from the decisive moment of the season,’ he said. ‘The fans saw the boys were not comfortable.

‘Nobody will give us anything. Hopefully this will make us prepare better and compete well. This season we have been a team who force mistakes and don’t make them. Today it was the other way round.’

After such a fine campaign, suddenly Forest seem tired and uncertain. Nuno has relied on a small group of players throughout and it may be time to give more minutes to those who are fresher.

So effective at home all season, Nuno’s men barely created a chance and were sunk by Abdoulaye Doucoure’s strike, following a decisive mistake by Murillo.

Abdoulaye Doucoure scored a last-gasp winner for Everton as they beat Nottingham Forest 1-0

Docoure’s strike in the 94th minute came on the counter attack and sparked wild scenes

Doucoure’s third goal of the season saw him finish cooly from Dwight McNeil’s pass

This was only the third win from 68 away matches for Everton against teams starting the day in the top three. David Moyes’ side secured survival long ago. Forest still have everything to play for.

‘If next season we have a season like Forest have done, I’d be thrilled – but we deserved it today,’ said Moyes. ‘It was a very good performance.’

With the shock return of Chris Wood after three games out with a hip injury, Nuno opted for a 4-4-2 formation with Jota Silva partnering Forest’s top scorer and Anthony Elanga surprisingly left on the bench.

Former Arsenal sporting director Edu is expected to join Forest in the summer and he was among the spectators on Saturday. The Brazilian is likely to hold a key role across the clubs controlled by owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Forest did not test Jordan Pickford until the 27th minute and by then Everton had had two attempts of their own from Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner.

Operating as part of a central midfield duo, Morgan Gibbs-White was struggling to influence the game higher up the pitch. His strike from 30 yards not long before half-time was hit cleanly but missed the target.

Callum Hudson-Odoi was Forest’s only orthodox winger and had been given little change by Jake O’Brien. With seconds of the half remaining, Hudson-Odoi finally escaped his full-back and Pickford made his first difficult save.

The Forest wide man found shooting space once more soon after the break following good work by Elliot Anderson though once more, his effort was too close to Pickford. Seconds later, Forest were caught cold by James Tarkowski’s ball over the top and Matz Sels took the sting from Ndiaye’s effort, allowing Murillo to hammer clear.

The goal came following a disastrous mistake from the usually brilliant Murillo (left, No 5)

The late defeat was a major blow for Forest in their battle to qualify for the Champions League

They were watched on by owner Evangelos Marinakis but have now lost two games in a row

Ex-Arsenal sporting director Edu was in the stands ahead of joining Forest in the summer

Everton continue to impress under David Moyes and they played well at the City Ground

The lack of invention was painful at times. Everton substitute Carlos Alcaraz tried to change things and was involved in the move that led to Jack Harrison shooting just over the bar on the turn.

By now Forest had introduced Elanga but the match-winner against Manchester United, who picked up a knock in the 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa last weekend, could not make his presence felt.

Forest dreamed of a winner when they won a late corner. Seconds later, the ball was in their net. Murillo found himself in a tangle on halfway, Dwight McNeil raced clear and fed Doucoure, who beat Sels from close range.