Thierno Barry of Everton reacts during the Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Liverpool, England
Thierno Barry thought he had finally scored his first goal for Everton on Saturday night
Thierno Barry had a goal ruled out during the second half of Everton's 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United. The Toffees striker was adjudged to have committed a handball offence before striking the ball past Aaron Ramsdale from close range.
Shortly after Malick Thiaw put the Magpies 4-0 up, Barry thought he had finally scored his first goal for Everton. The 23-year-old misjudged a cross, accidentally heading the ball onto his forearm.
The ball fell kindly for him inside the six-yard box, and he smashed it past Ramsdale. Barry, who Everton signed from Villarreal for £27m in the summer, wheeled away in celebration, and he looked visibly relieved to have opened his account.
Meanwhile, the Video Assistant Referee, Darren England, and his assistant, Craig Taylor, reviewed the incident at Stockley Park, and they deemed the Frenchman to have committed a foul. Barry was devastated, and he was later replaced by Beto.
Announcing the decision at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Craig Pawson said: "After review, Everton 11 commits an accidental handball before the goal is scored. The final decision is to cancel the goal and award a direct free kick to Newcastle."
The Premier League Match Centre relayed the on-field referee's explanation on X, formerly known as Twitter. The post read: "#EVENEW - 65’ VAR OVERTURN After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to Everton."
Malick Thiaw heads Newcastle United into the lead against Everton (Image: Chronicle Live)
Barry has featured 15 times for the Toffees across all competitions this season, and he's yet to get off the mark. He'll be determined to break his duck when Everton lock horns with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday night.
Earlier this month, David Moyes heaped great praise on Barry following an impressive performance in the 2-0 win over Fulham. Speaking to Everton TV, the Toffees boss said: "I thought Thierno had his best game for us.
"We need him to keep stepping up all the time, we need him to up his ante all the time. There's a great history of number nines at Everton Football Club and it's not an easy thing to follow when you go back through time."
Thierno Barry battles against Calvin Bassey during Everton's win over Fulham (Image: (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images))
Despite his misfortune in the final third, Barry has earned the support of Evertonians. Moyes added: "Let's hope maybe we can give him a little bit of respite.
"He'll get more confidence from his performance, he'll get great confidence from the support he had from the crowd. It was a great, great way to see him because everybody knows we want him to do well. And he performed well, he really did."
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