Everton v Nottingham Forest: Try 16/1 cards punt

• Ref Taylor is one of the best for cards

• 2+ cards has delivered in a combined 16 of 21 games

• Also take a punt on a 16/117.00 Bet Builder

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Everton v Nottingham Forest
Sunday 21 April, 13:30
Live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event

Make no mistake, this is a huge game for both sides as they continue to battle against relegation.

Following a heavy defeat for Luton on Saturday, Everton know victory would lift them five points clear of the drop zone - and they'd still have a game in hand on their drop rivals. A Forest win would take them four above 18th-placed Luton.

Quite why anyone would want to back Everton at around even money is beyond me. They've won just once since December and on Monday looked a sorry sight as they were crushed 6-0 at Chelsea.

However, you can bet Sean Dyche has demanded a response here and with questions once again being raised by fans, the players will surely need to demonstrate stronger commitment in front of the Goodison Park faithful.

Forest clearly also need to fight for everything now - it's just two wins in 18 for them so far in 2024.

Bet 1: Both teams over 1.5 cards

With Anthony Taylor the man in charge - it's worth noting he's replaced Chris Kavanagh as the referee - I'm going down the cards route for what could be a real scrap.

Take out Lewis Smith (due to the fact he's refereed only two games) and Taylor is one of only two officials to average over five cards per game in this season's Premier League.

As for the teams, the pair are in the top four for tackles and the top six for fouls committed.

My main play is to back over 1.5 cards for both teams at a shade of odds-against.

Everton have landed this in nine of their last 11 games, including the last five, while Forest have delivered in seven of their last 10.

I'm going to put two-thirds of the stake on this - thus ensuring a profit if it lands - while also taking a punt on a player-card double.

Bet 2: James Tarkowski & Morgan Gibbs-White to be shown a card

I really think this one could turn into something of a card fest and if it does then James Tarkowski and Morgan Gibbs-White look prime contenders. Both certainly appear to be overpriced.

Tarkowski has been carded in his last four games and five of his last seven. He's one Toffee whose commitment can rarely be questioned and I would expect him to be showing his team-mates how to respond to Monday's misery with a whole-hearted display, full of aggression.

On the other side of the ball, Morgan Gibbs-White has been booked in five of his last 10 league games yet is out at 7/24.50 for another.

Given Forest's predicament and Taylor's appointment, that looks too big.

The card double pays north of 16/117.00 which looks worth a poke with the remainder of our stake.

More Everton v Forest: Dave Tindall's 13/1 and 17/1 angles

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