Hidden heroes - and Moyes found them at the perfect time

In the post-match press conference, Moyes highlighted the performances of Nathan Patterson and Merlin Rohl unprompted, using his platform to spread the praise across his team in public.

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The win at Nottingham Forest was not Everton's best, most important or most enjoyable of 2025.

The ninth away win of the calendar year, it has strong competition from memorable nights in Manchester, Bournemouth, Brighton and elsewhere.

But it was a fine achievement given the parlous state of the Everton squad.

In some ways, success in this war of attrition was more satisfying than many of those nine.

The sunshine and celebrations in west London, Newcastle and Wolverhampton were wonderful but this was gutsy.

When I spoke with Moyes after the game he was struggling to contain his pleasure. I spoke with Sean Dyche too, and for all the frustration he had with his own players I sensed a pang of respect and perhaps even pride that the stubbornness that underpinned the Blues' victory had its roots in the defensive resilience he built his Everton tenure around.

That would be fair, of course - Moyes has often passed credit onto his predecessor for the defence he inherited.

In relation to Tuesday night's win, however, Nathan Patterson and Jake O'Brien may be forgiven for some bemusement given Dyche's reluctance to use either even when those ahead of them were carrying injuries.

And it is with those two that I will start the point I am hoping to convey - the pair were symbolic of a gutsy display of resilience in which a group of players who have faced personal adversity this season came together to help the team pull the club through its own moment of desperation. They deserve credit.

Nine days before he stepped out at the City Ground, O'Brien was responsible for the penalty that cost Everton the game at home to Arsenal.