Everton extended their unbeaten start to seven matches with a 1-0 win over Ipswich Town at the Hill Dickinson, although another controversial VAR decision provided much of the post-match discussion.
Thierno Barry’s 11th-minute goal proved enough for David Moyes’ side, who moved up to fifth in the Premier League and have now kept five clean sheets in seven games in all competitions.
Ipswich finished with ten men after Abdul Fatawu collected a second yellow card for simulation in the 67th minute. Everton could not make the extra man count on the scoresheet, leaving the visitors in the game until the end.
You can revisit the confirmed Everton and Ipswich line-ups from before kick-off.
Barry denied second Everton goal by VAR
Barry opened the scoring when James Tarkowski’s effort from distance struck the striker and wrong-footed Christian Walton.
He thought he had another shortly before the hour. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall delivered the corner and Barry directed an excellent header into the far corner, only for VAR Andrew Kitchen to intervene because Brennan Johnson was standing in an offside position in front of Walton.
Referee Stuart Attwell was sent to the monitor and eventually ruled that Johnson had interfered with the goalkeeper.
It meant another afternoon of VAR debate involving Everton, a week after the disputed incident in the Manchester derby. We looked at Stuart Attwell’s appointment before the game.
National media question Barry decision
The decision featured heavily in the Sunday reports.
Dominic King, writing in The Telegraph, was scathing about the intervention and argued that Barry’s header should have stood.
Paul Joyce of The Times picked up on what happened after the final whistle. Barry, rather than heading straight off to celebrate the victory, spent time in conversation with Attwell, seemingly still unhappy about the decision.
The Guardian’s Andy Hunter also questioned the call while noting Everton’s start to the season. Moyes’ side are fifth, remain unbeaten and have conceded in only two of their opening seven matches.
Nathan Salt of the Daily Mail was another unconvinced by the decision, questioning whether Walton had any realistic chance of reaching Barry’s header regardless of Johnson’s position.
The Liverpool Echo has brought together more of the reaction in its round-up of the national media coverage.
Everton take unbeaten run into the break
Moyes will know there was room for improvement.
Everton had 21 attempts but only two on target and could not find a second goal even after Fatawu’s dismissal. Ipswich remained a threat and Jarrad Branthwaite had to make an important block as the visitors pushed for an equaliser.
But Everton have now won four and drawn three of their seven games in all competitions, keeping five clean sheets along the way. The resilience Moyes has demanded from his side was needed again.
Barry’s winner was his fifth goal of the season.
It may also have been his strangest.
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