Everton won their fourth Premier League game in five as they swept Nottingham Forest aside with ease on Saturday afternoon – and Thierno Barry has been praised by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall after finally getting on the scoresheet.
Everton went into their Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest and former boss Sean Dyche having won three in four in the top-flight, taking them from the bottom half of the table into the top half and with European aspirations.
An early Nikola Milenkovic own goal was followed up by Thierno Barry’s first goal in the famous royal blue shirt, and a win was compounded when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall struck home to leave fans in high spirits. The win momentarily put Everton fifth in the table, which would be enough to clinch European football come the end of the campaign.
And, with Barry having struggled to score so far this season, teammate Dewsbury-Hall has praised the Frenchman for ‘working his nuts off’ to finally land his first Toffees strike, seeing supporters at their loudest yet at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton v Nottingham Forest - Premier League
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Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall says Thierno Barry goal was ‘one of the loudest’ Hill Dickinson moments
Speaking after the 3-0 win, Dewsbury-Hall – a summer signing from Chelsea – was overjoyed with how his teammates managed to get a win over the line on home soil, extending their solid run of form.
And with Barry finally being able to celebrate in front of the Hill Dickinson Stadium faithful, Dewsbury-Hall reckons Barry deserved all of the plaudits for his strike after working hard to earn the tirades of affection from fans.
The in-form midfielder said: “After the goal, that is one of the loudest I have heard the stadium.
Three MASSIVE points! Who was your Man of the Match vs Nottingham Forest? 🥳
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“Thierno has worked his nuts off, hopefully that is the catalyst for him to push on.”
There have been plenty of instances of Everton strikers finally breaking their ducks before going on to become regular goalscorers – and if Thierno Barry can do the same, Everton could record their highest finish in almost a decade.
Whilst Everton could not have been further away from European football under Frank Lampard, Rafa Benitez and Sean Dyche, it does seem somewhat plausible under David Moyes.
It’s been over 20 years since the Toffees confirmed a place in the Champions League under the Scot, but he has shown that he can do it with a strong start to the Premier League season.
And Dewsbury-Hall has added to that, citing the new stadium, the size of the club and their good form as enough reasons for Everton being able to play on the continent. He said: “Of course Europe is a realistic ambition. The size of the club, the ownership, the stadium, it all shouts European football.
“A lot can happen, but we are making positive steps.
HE’S FINALLY GOT HIS GOAL! It may have taken 17 appearances, but Thierno Barry is up and running for Everton 🔥
Everton v Nottingham Forest - Premier League
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“I came here for a reason, I saw something that looked pretty special. Now I’m starting to feel really settled, the best I have ever felt. Long may that continue.”
Moyes also qualified for the UEFA Cup and Europa League for three years in a row from 2007 to 2009, where the Toffees reached the round of 16 and the round of 32 in the final two attempts prior to his move to Manchester United.
And, most importantly of all, Moyes has European grandeur after winning the Conference League with West Ham in 2023.
Everton fans will be vying to see a first trophy win for the first time this century and if Moyes can replicate that, he’ll go down as an Everton legend.
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