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Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrates his stoppage-time winner - PA/Bradley Collyer
It is now 112 days that Nottingham Forest have occupied the Premier League’s top-four, but the nerves are now jangling.
Forest fans are experiencing the full pendulum of emotions in the club’s pursuit of the Champions League and this was an excruciating afternoon at the City Ground.
Everton produced a fine advertisement for Premier League integrity with a disciplined performance and a late hammer blow winner from Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Forest had been dicing with danger all afternoon and the crucial moment came five minutes into added time.
A mistake from Murillo on the halfway line allowed Everton to break with a numerical advantage and substitute Dwight McNeil crossed to Doucoure, who finished to spark wild scenes of celebration in the away end.
It was Forest’s first defeat in front of their own supporters since November 10 and leaves them four points above sixth-placed Chelsea, who face Ipswich on Sunday.
Forest never really got going and could have no real complaints about a result which will give the chasing pack encouragement in the race for a top-five finish. Last weekend’s defeat at Aston Villa cranked up the tension, so this game always felt like a vitally important one.
Forest had goalkeeper Matz Sels to thank again for two saves from James Garner and Iliman Ndiaye.
Everton are virtually safe from relegation and this was only their second win in the last nine matches. David Moyes always knows how to set teams up to frustrate and this was a classic Everton away performance.
Aston Villa had to rely on substitutes Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen and John McGinn to give them a 3-0 away win at relegated Southampton.
Watkins scored in the 73rd minute and Malen six minutes later after both came on midway through the second half to help lift Villa to fifth in the standings.
McGinn added the third as he followed up to convert the rebound after Aaron Ramsdale saved Marco Asensio’s stoppage-time penalty. Ramsdale also stopped an earlier Asensio spot kick.
It was Southampton’s 13th home defeat of the season, setting a club record as they played for the first time since Monday’s sacking of manager Ivan Juric
“I think that’s a very important goal for a start,” Watkins told reporters.
“Sometimes you need that bit of luck and a bit of magic. It was nice to see that one go in and that’s one of my favourites to be honest.”
Stephy Mavididi and Caleb Okoli scored for Leicester City as they twice came from behind to grab a 2-2 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion and end a run of eight Premier League losses without scoring.
The shadow of relegation still hangs heavy over Leicester, who are 19th in the table on 18 points, two behind Ipswich Town and 14 adrift of 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers with seven games left. Brighton are ninth on 48 points.
Winger Simon Adingra provided the spark for the Seagulls to open the scoring, firing a shot that was handled in the box by Conor Coady, and when the penalty was awarded after a lengthy VAR review, Joao Pedro made no mistake from the spot in the 31st minute.
Adingra could have made it two in the 37th minute but his effort skimmed the top of the crossbar as it flew over, and a minute later that miss was to prove costly as Leicester’s fans found themselves cheering a league goal for the first time in more than two months.
After losing their last home game 3-0 to Aston Villa, dropping points at home again dealt a blow to Brighton’s effort to qualify for Europe for a second season running.
“It’s frustrating for us, we need to find a way to win games - to be in a European tournament, we need to win games.” goal-scorer Pedro said.
“We created a lot of chances and we need to score more, me also ... everyone is sad and frustrated because we could’ve won, we can’t drop points.”
05:46 PM BST
Thanks for your company
And that wraps up coverage of today’s 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League.
No doubt Everton and Aston Villa will be happiest of the six sides after securing wins against Nottingham Forest and Southampton respectively.
Leicester too, will be pleased with their first point in nine games after a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Brighton.
Arsenal-Brentford is the 5:30pm game and Rob Smyth and Matt Law have you covered here.
05:37 PM BST
‘Everyone is sad and frustrated’
Joao Pedro speaking to Premier League Productions: “It’s frustrating for us, we need to find a way to win games. To be in a European tournament, we need to win games.
“We created a lot of chances and we need to score more, me also. Everyone is sad and frustrated because we could’ve won, we can’t drop points.”
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Brighton players applaud the fans at the Amex after drawing 2-2 with Leicester - Reuters/Maja Smiejkowska
05:27 PM BST
‘It was nice to see that one go in’
Ollie Watkins speaking to Premier League productions about the game and his goal: “They [Southampton] had a lot of men behind the ball in the first half and it was difficult to break down. It was about being patient and once we got that first one the chances started coming more frequently.
“I think that’s a very important goal for a start. Like I said a lot of teams battling for a top four finish but sometimes you need that bit of luck and a bit of magic. It was nice to see that one go in and that’s one of my favourites to be honest.”
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Watkins celebrates after opening the scoring for Aston Villa - Getty Images/Harry Murphy
05:15 PM BST
‘It was a terrific moment for the team’
Everton hero Abdoulaye Doucoure, speaking to BBC Match of the Day:“I think we can’t have better than that, when you play a football game, to score a last-minute goal. It was a terrific moment for the team.”
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Everton players celebrate after Abdoulaye Doucoure’s late winner at the CIty Ground - Getty Images/Shaun Botterill
05:09 PM BST
Super subs Watkins, Malen and McGinn
All three of Aston Villa’s second-half substitutes scored as Unai Emery’s side move up to fifth in the Premier League.
Nice way to bounce back following the Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat to Paris St-Germain in midweek.
Victory sets them up nicely for the second leg on Tuesday.
05:01 PM BST
Full-time scores
Brighton 2 Leicester 2
Nottingham Forest 0 Everton 1
Southampton 0 Aston Villa 3
04:55 PM BST
Southampton 0 Aston Villa 3
Curtains at St Mary’s! John McGinn scores after Asensio had a second penalty saved by Ramsdale!
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John McGinn celebrates scoring Aston Villa’s third goal at St Mary’s - Reuters/Ian Walton
04:53 PM BST
Everton take the lead at the City Ground
Abdoulaye Doucoure puts Everton ahead with a tidy finish in the 94th minute!
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Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrates after scoring for Everton at the City Ground - Reuters/Ed Sykes
04:50 PM BST
89 mins: Brighton 2 Leicester 2
Leicester finishing strong at the Amex as they win a corner as the game enters stoppage time.
04:39 PM BST
Malen doubles Villa’s lead
Donyell Malen, another second-half substitute, makes it Aston Villa 2 Southampton 0.
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Donyell Malen celebrates after doubling Aston Villa’s lead at St Mary’s - Reuters/Ian Walton
04:36 PM BST
Okoli draws Leicester level
Caleb Okoli scores his first Leicester goal with a powerful header to draw Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side level!
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Caleb Okoli scores with a header for Leicester - Reuters/Peter Cziborra
04:32 PM BST
Watkins scores for Villa
Second-half substitute Ollie Watkins, who won the penalty Asensio missed, puts Aston Villa in front at St Mary’s!
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Ollie Watkins celebrates after scoring for Aston Villa - Reuters/Ian Walton
04:29 PM BST
Ramsdale saves Asensio’s penalty!
Marco Asensio misses from the penalty spot for Aston Villa as Aaron Ramsdale makes a great save!
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Aaron Ramsdale celebrates with team-mates after saving a penalty from Aston Villa’s Marco Asensio - Reuters/Ian Walton
04:19 PM BST
Elanga on for Forest
No surprise that Anthony Elanga is coming on for Forest as they try and break Everton’s resilience.
Elanga was taken off at half-time in last weekend’s defeat at Aston Villa with a minor injury and started on the bench here.
How Forest could do with him sprinkling some magic, like the 85 metre run in 9 seconds in the last home game against Manchester United.
Forest are defending desperately here and require a spark.
04:17 PM BST
Pedro scores! Brighton 2 Leicester 1
Joao Pedro scores for the second time from the spot to put Brighton back in front!
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Joao Pedro scores from the spot to make it Brighton 2 Leicester 1 - Getty Images/Glyn Kirk
04:15 PM BST
Brighton penalty!
The referee has pointed to the spot after checking the monitor.
Matt O’Riley drew the foul in the area.
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Referee Darren Bond looks at the VAR monitor before awarding Brighton their second penalty - Reuters/Peter Cziborra
04:13 PM BST
Penalty at the Amex?
Another VAR check at the Amex! Brighton might be awarded their second penalty of the game...
04:12 PM BST
55 mins: Southampton 0 Aston Villa 0
Tyler Dibling has come on for Paul Onuachu for Southampton at half time.
Surprisingly, Aston Villa have not made any changes but are still dominating possession in the second half.
03:55 PM BST
Nervy atmosphere around the City Ground
There is a nervy atmosphere around the City Ground today, perhaps unsurprisingly with so much at stake for Nottingham Forest.
Everton had the better of the first-half and Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels was forced into a reflex save from James Garner.
Nuno Espirito Santo has appeared frustrated in the technical area, with his players frequently giving away possession.
He might be tempted to make changes soon, with speed demon Anthony Elanga among the substitutes.
David Moyes will be very satisfied so far: his team are set up perfectly and frustrating the home team.
03:51 PM BST
Half-time scores
Brighton 1 Leicester 1
Nottingham Forest 0 Everton 0
Southampton 0 Aston Villa 0
03:39 PM BST
38 mins: Brighton 1 Leicester 1
Stephy Mavididi scores his first goal since January to draw Leicester level against the run of play.
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Stephy Mavidid (right) celebrates with team-mate Luke Thomas after scoring for Leicester - Getty Images/Mike Hewitt
03:31 PM BST
31 mins: Brighton 1 Leicester 0
Joao Pedro scores from the spot!
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Joao Pedro puts Brighton ahead from the penalty spot - Getty Images/Glyn Kirk
03:29 PM BST
VAR check at the Amex Stadium
Brighton might have a penalty as referee Darren Bond checks the monitor. VAR check complete, Brighton penalty!
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VAR check at Amex Stadium - Getty Images/Mike Hewitt
03:23 PM BST
Edu sighting at the City Ground
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Former Arsenal sporting director Edu (centre), in the stands at the City Ground - PA/Bradley Collyer
03:21 PM BST
20 mins: Brighton 0 Leicester 0
The home side having most of the possession in the first half. Danny Welbeck and Simon Adingra have both had efforts saved by Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
03:15 PM BST
Southampton interim manager Simon Rusk alongside assistant Lallana
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Southampton interim manager Simon Rusk and interim assistant manager Adam Lallana - PA/Andrew Matthews
03:13 PM BST
Intriguing subplot between Selz and Pickford
An intriguing subplot at the City Ground today will involve the two goalkeepers.
Forest’s Matz Sels is currently leading the way with 13 clean sheets, which is the number Everton’s Jordan Pickford ended last season with.
Pickford was the Golden Glove runner-up behind Arsenal’s David Raya and is on nine shutouts this term.
The England international is running out of games to catch up with Sels, who has been remarkably consistent for Forest in this stirring campaign.
03:11 PM BST
10 mins: Southampton 0 Aston Villa 0
Villa are dominating the early proceedings at St Mary’s and have had three shots on goal inside the opening 10 minutes. None on target though.
03:04 PM BST
All three 3pm games games have kicked off
We are under way in the three 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League.
03:00 PM BST
Celebrity Brighton fan Norman Cook, AKA Fatboy Slim, at Amex Stadium
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Musician Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim) poses with Brighton fans before the game - Reuters/Maja Smiejkowska
02:57 PM BST
Nottingham Forest fans on boats on the River Trent
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Nottingham Forest fans on boats on the River Trent setting off red smoke flares before the Premier League match at The City Ground - PA/Bradley Collyer
02:55 PM BST
Edu at the City Ground
Some breaking news from Forest is that Edu, Arsenal’s former sporting director, is here at the City Ground.
Edu is expected to take a senior multi-club role across Evangelos Marinakis’ football operations.
He is currently on gardening leave but this is his first appearance at Forest since his departure from Arsenal in November.
England under-21 head coach Lee Carsley is also here today.
Forest say Edu is here today as a guest of Marinakis, the club’s owner.
02:53 PM BST
Nottingham Forest players warm up
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Nottingham Forest players warm up - Reuters/Jaimi Joy
02:41 PM BST
Southampton midfielder and interim assistant manager Adam Lallana
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Adam Lallana ahead of Southampton versus Aston Villa - PA/Andrew Matthews
02:27 PM BST
Wood return a ‘huge boost’ for Forest
It is now 112 days that Forest have occupied the Premier League’s top-four.
Forest fans are experiencing the full pendulum of emotions in the club’s pursuit of the Champions League.
Last weekend’s defeat at Aston Villa cranked up the tension again, so this game against Everton is veering towards must-win territory.
Leading scorer Chris Wood returns after a bruised hip injury in a huge boost for Nuno Espirito Santo.
Everton are virtually safe from relegation and have only one win from the last eight matches so this should represent a good opportunity for Forest.
Not with David Moyes around, though. He will love this type of pressure situation and always knows how to set teams up to frustrate.
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Chris Wood returns to the Nottingham Forest starting XI - Getty Images/Andrew Kearns
02:24 PM BST
Southampton-Aston Villa teams in black and white
Southampton XI Ramsdale, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Stephens, Manning, Mateus Fernandes, Ugochukwu, Archer, Sulemana, Onuachu
Subs McCarthy, Aribo, Smallbone, Stewart, Bree, Wood, Sugawara, Dibling, Robinson.
Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen, Onana, Tielemans, Rogers, Asensio, Ramsey, Rashford
SubsOlsen, Disasi, McGinn, Watkins, Digne, Torres, Garcia, Malen, Kamara.
Interim manager Simon Rusk makes two changes to last weekend’s side as Jack Stephens and Paul Onuachu replace Joe Aribo and Tyler Dibling.
Unai Emery makes four changes to the Aston Villa side that lost in Paris midweek. Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen, Amadou Onana and Marco Asensio start. Pau Torres, Lucas Digne, Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn drop to the bench.
02:19 PM BST
Forest-Everton teams in black and white
Nottingham Forest XI Sels, Dominguez, Morato, Milenkovic, Moreno, Williams, Silva, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Wood.
Subs Morato, Sangare, Elanga, Yates, Sosa, Danilo, Boly, Carlos Miguel, Abbott.
Everton XI Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, Harrison, Doucoure, Ndiaye, Broja.
Subs Virginia, Patterson, Keane, McNeil, Beto, Chermiti, Young, Coleman, Alcaraz, Iroegbunam.
As expected, Chris Wood returns to the Nottingham Forest starting XI with Jota and Alex Moreno also starting to round off the three changes for Forest. Anthony Elanga, Morato and Ryan Yates all drop to the bench.
Armando Broja makes his first Everton start since January as one of three changes for Everton. Beto drops to the bench. Vitalii Mykolenko and James Garner also start in place of Nathan Patterson and Tim Iroegbunam.
02:08 PM BST
Brighton-Leicester teams in black and white
Brighton XI Verbruggen, Estupinian, Dunk, Hinshelwood, Baleba, Minteh, O’Riley, Ayari, Adingra, Welbeck, Pedro.
Subs Rushworth, March, Gruda, Cashin, Gomez, Wieffer, Tasker, James, Howell.
Leicester City XI Hermansen, Justin, Coady, Okoli, Thomas, Soumare, Ndidi, El Khannouss, Mavididi, McAteer, Vardy.
Subs Stolarczyk, De Cordova-Reid, Ayew, Daka, Pereira, Skipp, Coulibaly, Aluko, Evans.
Fabian Hurzeler makes three changes from last weekend, as Simon Adingra, Yasin Ayari and Joao Pedro replace Diego Gomez, Kaoru Mitoma and Jan Paul van Hecke.
Ruud van Nistelrooy also makes three changes to his Leicester side with Caleb Okoli, Stephy Mavididi and Kasey McAteer coming into the side, replacing Wout Faes, Victor Kristiansen and Patson Daka.
01:56 PM BST
Aston Villa team
01:55 PM BST
Southampton team
01:54 PM BST
Everton team
01:53 PM BST
Nottingham Forest team
01:52 PM BST
Leicester team
01:49 PM BST
Brighton team
01:47 PM BST
Three 3pm kick-offs
Good afternoon and welcome to clockwatch coverage of this afternoon’s three 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League.
Brighton, who host Leicester City, are searching for their first win in the league since beating Fulham 2-1 at the start of March. Since then, Fabian Hurzeler’s side have drawn with Manchester City and suffered defeats at the hands of Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.
Leicester, who look all but doomed, are on a miserable run of nine defeats in a row in all competitions. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side’s last victory came all the way back in January, when they beat Tottenham 2-1.
Champions League-chasing Nottingham Forest welcome Everton to the City Ground and will be looking to bounce back after last weekend’s defeat at Aston Villa. That defeat at Villa Park ended a run of six games unbeaten for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side who could welcome Chris Wood back to the starting line up after the striker missed out last weekend due to an injury.
Everton have not won a game since February but have lost just once in that time (1-0 in the Merseyside derby), and drawn five times. Since David Moyes took charge for his second spell in January, he has more than steadied the ship. Everton have played 12 league matches and lost just twice.
Southampton, the first team to be relegated with as many as seven games remaining, play Aston Villa at St Mary’s. Interim manager Simon Rusk has seven games left to try and avoid Southampton having the lowest points tally in Premier League history. They are currently on 10 points – Derby finished with 11 in the 2007/08 season.
Aston Villa, who have a Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris St-Germain coming up, will likely rest key members of the first team. Before the defeat in Paris on Wednesday, Unai Emery had guided Aston Villa to seven straight victories in all competitions. Expect the away side to return to winning ways this afternoon.
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