Everton are up to fifth in the Premier League after Thierno Barry scored the only goal in a hard-earned win over Ipswich Town at the Hill Dickinson.
Barry’s fifth goal of the season maintained Everton’s unbeaten start, although David Moyes was left wondering how his side had managed only two efforts on target from 21 attempts.
Barry gets the break Everton need
Barry had gone four games without scoring and there was certainly some fortune involved in the goal which ended that run. James Tarkowski tried his luck with a volley from around 25 yards and the ball deflected off Barry’s chest, wrong-footing Christian Walton before finding the net.
It was hardly one for the Barry showreel, but Everton had their lead. Moyes’ starting XI and the thinking behind his selections can be found in our report on the confirmed teams against Ipswich Town.
Barry thought he had another when he headed home, only for VAR to rule it out. Brennan Johnson was in an offside position and adjudged to have interfered with Walton’s view.
Moyes wants more from Everton attack
Everton finished with 21 attempts but only two on target, a statistic which clearly irritated Moyes afterwards.
“Today we had 21 shots and only two on target so that is not any good. But the 21 shots is good,” he said.
Ipswich boss Gary O’Neil accepted his side had been unfortunate with the goal. “The goal is fairly unfortunate to go in off the guy’s midriff,” he said.
O’Neil had no complaint about Barry’s disallowed effort. “It is offside,” he said, although he was less happy with Abdul Fatawu’s dismissal for simulation after a second yellow card.
“You can see he is anticipating some contact,” said O’Neil.
More details on the officials appointed for the game can be found in our Everton v Ipswich referee guide.
Moyes was rather more concerned by what Everton did with their own opportunities.
“I am ratting them, why are we not scoring more?” he said. “That is one of the things we are missing from being a half-decent side.”
Even Barry’s disallowed header brought some criticism from his manager.
“He should have scored his header,” Moyes said. “The goalkeeper would not have saved the header.”
Pickford and Everton defence deliver again
If Everton’s finishing continues to frustrate Moyes, there can be few complaints about what is happening at the other end. This was their fifth clean sheet in all competitions this season and their third in eight days.
Jordan Pickford was in little doubt about what had been required.
“You have to dig in, that’s the Everton way,” he said.
Moyes was also pleased with the defensive work, saying: “The clean sheets is something to be pleased about and build on if we can.”
It has given Everton something dependable while Moyes tries to find more goals from his side. Twenty-one attempts should normally make for a rather less anxious afternoon.
Everton fifth after unbeaten start
Three more points leave Everton fifth in the Premier League and only three points off top spot, with their unbeaten start still intact.
Moyes believes his players have responded well to the restrictions he has been working under.
“We have tried to turn it into a positive,” he said. “Statistically we have been making much more chances.”
Asked whether Everton’s start had exceeded expectations, Moyes admitted it had.
“I would have to say yes in a lot of cases,” he said. “We have done pretty well.”
The wider match coverage against Ipswich Town tells the story of an Everton side who had enough opportunities to make life easier for themselves but ultimately needed only Barry’s rather unconventional finish.
Moyes will want considerably better than two shots on target next time. For now, though, another clean sheet, another win and fifth place will do nicely.
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