Dwight McNeil’s clinical strike gave Everton their first win since they had 10 Premier League points deducted as they hung on to beat Nottingham Forest.
McNeil netted his first goal of the campaign at the City Ground with a crisp half-volley at the back post.
The win also helped Sean Dyche’s side, bottom at kick-off after Burnley’s 5-0 win over Sheffield United earlier, move off the foot of the table to 18th.
It heaps pressure on Forest boss Steve Cooper after consecutive home defeats.
Forest piled the pressure on the Everton goal as the game headed towards the final whistle and the visitors were indebted to Jordan Pickford’s late heroics.
The England goalkeeper raced off his line to make a tackle to deny Anthony Elanga and produced a fine diving save to keep an effort from Murillo.
Everton’s margin of victory might have been greater had Beto not fluffed a golden chance and McNeil seen a goal-bound effort cleared off the line.
Forest, who had earlier seen Morgan Gibbs-White strike the side netting and Murillo hit the base of the post, were left to rue missed chances of their own.
