Merseyside misery as Forest fall flat

HEAD coach Sean Dyche was left to rue a poor start as Nottingham Forest fell to a 3-0 defeat away to Everton.

- By SARAH CLAPSON

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall puts to make Everton's a miserable day for Nottingham Forest.

(PICS: SMARTFRAME)

The Reds have made good strides since Dyche's appointment in October as they battle to climb away from trouble at the bottom end of the Premier League table. On his return to his former club, though, the 54-year-old felt his team were below par.

They fell behind with less than two minutes on the clock at the Hill Dickinson Stadium courtesy of a Nikola Milenkovic own goal. And they struggled to offer much going forward in a bid to get back in the game, with the Toffees comfortably wrapping up the three points.

"We did not get off to a good start, which is never helpful," said Dyche.

"But to be honest we never got close to the performance level I expect from the group. Not with regard to tactics, just the competitive nature, the desire, the will of a collective, to take the game on.

"I never thought we got to grips with it, to be honest. I thought they did. Credit to them.