Everton are back in Premier League action today, and should be buoyed as another round of Premier League fixtures having been favourable to them.
However, as has often been the case throughout the last three years, they have been unable to capitalise.
A lack of form and confidence has seen them struggle to taste victory at all over the last six months, and as such they have recorded just a single unconvincing league win over Burnley since December.
But now they must stand up.
After all, sacrificing points to Nottingham Forest could prove suicidal in their race for survival.
Nuno Espirito Santo has a plan to stop Everton
Speaking on Friday afternoon at his press conference, Nuno Espirito Santo was an in-demand man.
After all, many were curious to get his thoughts on the clash between two relegation-threatened sides, both of whom have also been administered points deductions this season.
The ‘Deduction Derby’, as some are dubbing it, promises to be a cagey and nervy affair for all involved.
However, the Portuguese tactician thinks he has a foolproof plan to thwart Everton.
He claimed: ‘They score a lot from set-pieces so it’s about working, working, working. It’s what we’ve done today, what we’ll do tomorrow again and what we’ve done before yesterday.
‘It’s putting things right, and fortunately we only conceded [from] one corner last game. We’ve been able to be really strong with our pressing.
‘It’s finding the balance of not conceding set-pieces and, at the same time, when they happen, being focused and determined to solve it.’
Sean Dyche can undo Nottingham Forest
Whilst Nuno has a seemingly intricate plan to quell Everton’s set-piece threat and silence the crowd, doing so will not be so easy.
After all, it is far simpler to execute a game plan that nullifies a particular system or tactical decision, but simply stopping free kicks and corners from being conceded is near impossible.
Especially given the frantic panic it will instigate, given their torrid record of defending from these types of situations.
Conversely, the Toffees are some of the most proficient in the Premier League, ironically so given how profligate they have otherwise been the season.
Nuno may think he has a grand plan to silence the hosts, but armed with this knowledge, Sean Dyche‘s is far more simple and straightforward.
He need not try anything new or particularly fancy, but instead just rely on the basics: a solid, defensive system and preying on Forest’s outstanding weakness.