The ECHO has dished out its player ratings after Everton beat Ipswich Town 1-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Everton's Thierno Barry celebrates scoring the opening goal
Everton's Thierno Barry celebrates scoring the opening goal(Image: Alex Dodd/Shutterstock)
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Everton went into the first international break of the season by extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven matches with a nervy 1-0 win over Ipswich Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The newly promoted visitors came into their first game by the Mersey waterfront level on points with David Moyes’ men and proved stubborn opponents despite having Abdul Fatawu sent off midway through the second half when picking up a second yellow card for diving, the hosts were left clinging on.
Thierno Barry scored the only goal of the game on 11 minutes when James Tarkowski’s shot deflected off his chest into the net but he had a second disallowed in the second half when heading in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s corner, only for referee Stuart Attwell to go over to his pitchside monitor and deem Brennan Johnson was offside.
Jordan Pickford 7
Had to be alert to make smart saves in key moments, denying Abdul Fatawu in the second half and then getting down low to his right to turn a Julio Enciso shot around the post moments after the restart, while in between he seemed to lose his bearings when pushing a long-range shot from Fatawu when it was going wide.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles 6
Starting to settle into his new surroundings, he had to remain focused when defending but going forward, he picked out Barry for an inviting headed chance with a nice cross.
Vitalii Mykolenko 6
A few promising forays upfield in addition to his defensive work, he’s benefitting from having Jack Grealish on his side of the pitch again but picked up a booking for a lunge on Fatawu.
James Tarkowski 7
There were shades of Goodison Park’s final Merseyside Derby when he fired in a volley from outside the area but while this time it was deflected in by Barry, he’s lead by example at the back even though there were a few nervous moments.
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Jarrad Branthwaite 7
Recalled to the England squad, the Rolls-Royce of a defender was one of Everton’s more polished performers and it was his ability to step forwards out of defence that started the move that won the corner for the disallowed Barry goal and he also did the dirty work by making a crucial block to keep out Issa Diop’s last-gasp effort.
James Garner 6
Played his part in a watershed moment as it was his challenge on Abdul Fatawu that saw the Ipswich man shown a second yellow card for diving, he often found himself fighting fires in what at times was an overly open game when you hoped he could just pick a pass.
Harrison Armstrong 6
Delightful pass to find Johnson for his early chance, his recall after missing out against Wolves shows how highly regarded he now is and while not all his distribution was as impressive, he maintained a positive approach and should have done better with a chance for his first Everton goal on the break late on before being booked deep into stoppage time for pulling Jaden Philogene’s shirt.
Brennan Johnson 5
Missed two inviting chances without there being much in between other than being the fall guy in an offside position, which saw Barry’s second goal ruled out when Stuart Attwell consulted the pitchside monitor. The second chance was tougher at full stretch but he really should have put Everton ahead early on when his smart touch worked an inviting opening only to fire wide.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 6
Denied an assist by the VAR offside decision after Barry headed in his corner, he should have nodded on in himself with a back post chance from Dibling’s cross as he put in a determined display despite his wild no-look back pass that was intercepted by Emersonn early on.
Jack Grealish 7
Making his first Premier League start since the 1-0 win at his boyhood club Aston Villa on January 18, hopefully the body is now catching up with his terrific football brain as his clever play to slow things down and pick a pass brought a new dimension to Everton’s game and he always occupies opponents.
Thierno Barry 6
Busy afternoon, he was fortunate to double his Premier League goal tally for the season in bizarre circumstances as James Tarkowski’s volley struck his chest and was deflected past Ipswich keeper Christian Walton, but could have had a second with a headed chance before he did nod in after the break, only for his effort to be ruled out because Johnson was deemed to be offside.
Substitutes
Tyler Dibling (on 67 for Johnson) 7
Buoyed by his display against Wolves, he was lively off the bench here, always asking questions of Ipswich’s defenders and bringing the best out of Christian Walton with a left-foot shot.
Tyrique George (on 79 for Grealish)
Supposedly feeling under the weather, he nevertheless added some spark in the latter stages.
Hayden Hackney (on 90 for Dewsbury-Hall)
Stoppage time cameo.
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Jake O’Brien (on 90 for Maitland-Niles)
Ditto.
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