Nuno Espirito Santo is looking to repeat David Moyes’ trick of 20 years ago by taking a team from 17th place in the Premier League to Champions League football in the space of a year. But the division’s elder statesman got one over on the high-flying Portuguese gaffer at the City Ground as Everton were excellent value for their 1-0 victory over this season’s surprise package, Nottingham Forest.

Although their match-winner didn’t arrive until second half stoppage time, this was no smash and grab raid in the East Midlands sunshine from the Blues who bossed proceedings from the start and their jubilant travelling supporters celebrated heartily following the final whistle with the result surely banishing any of the smallest remaining relegation fears.

Although Moyes hasn’t yet made his first visit to Everton’s new stadium, having initially stated he didn’t want to go there until the team’s Premier League status for next season was secured, having admitted following the Arsenal game that he was now planning to go inside the 52,888 capacity venue, stating: “It is nearly done. Obviously, mathematically we’re not safe yet,” before adding: “I know I’ve got a bit to do and I hope I’m not speaking too soon.”

That ‘bit’ is surely done now with this third away win since the 61-year-old returned to the helm. The magnitude of victory cannot be underestimated either as while triumphing at Brighton & Hove Albion plus Crystal Palace was impressive, given where Forest are this term, this was an even greater scalp.

Opposite number Nuno – who was in the frame to be Blues boss himself before Farhad Moshiri went rogue and chose to replace Carlo Ancelotti with Rafael Benitez – might be a man of few words (his programme notes contained a mere 45, taking brevity to new levels) but his team have more points than that this season (57), which is more than Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City so this was no mean feat.