The Verdict from Hill Dickinson Stadium as Thierno Barry;s brace helped Everton to a 3-1 win over Coventry City
Thierno Barry of Everton celebrates (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Thierno Barry of Everton celebrates (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
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If someone had told you last April that by the November international break Thierno Barry would be on double figures for the season, you can imagine the response.
And you can imagine the response if you had then been told that Barry would find himself being serenaded by Everton supporters after firing home a quickfire brace to turn a Premier League game on its head.
And then, for good measure, imagine Barry being serenaded by supporters after producing a fine sliding tackle as the clock ticked down in stoppage time while the Blues recorded a third win in eight days.
Well, there is no need to imagine anymore because all three of those things - and much more - happened against Coventry City here.
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While all the talk and focus might be on Jack Grealish and his continued absence, Barry and the rest of his Everton team-mates are quietly getting on with their business.
And what a fine eight days it has been for David Moyes and his side from beating Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup to this win here.
"No Jack Grealish, no problem" has been on the lips of supporters since last Thursday, but at times here the on-loan Manchester City player was certainly missed.
During a first-half that was lacking quality, Everton were crying out for an experienced head with the ability to create. Everton have that in Grealish, but they lacked that presence here.
After a couple of warnings, they should have fallen behind when Jack Rudoni played in Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, who should have done better than firing straight at Jordan Pickford.
The night was also not without controversy as the Sky Blues could have easily been awarded a penalty when James Tarkowski pulled the hair of Caleb Yirenkyi.
A VAR review did take place, but no penalty was awarded. However, on another night one could well have been given and Frank Lampard and his club might be about to receive an apology from the PGMOL.
Lampard's frustrations soon turned to smiles, however, when his side deservedly took the lead seven minutes into the second-half after some fine play from Yann Gboho.
After controlling the ball with three Everton defenders around him in the box and with his back to goal, the midfielder turned and poked the ball past Pickford.
From an Everton perspective, it was an incredibly poor goal to concede, and it started to feel like it could be another one of those nights for the Blues.
However, one thing David Moyes has instilled in his small group of players is resilience, and they bounced back in the best way possible.
Barry will rightly get all the headlines, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s work in his side’s equaliser should not go unnoticed.
Picking the ball up inside his own half, the midfielder drove forward to create a chance for Tyler Dibling to put the ball into the box.
It eventually found its way to Vitalii Mykolenko, whose cross from the left Barry headed home at the back post after Jay Dasilva crumpled to the floor.
And within five minutes, Barry was on double figures for the season when he outjumped Dasilva at the far post to bundle home off his midriff.
The goal was by no means a classic, and former Blues boss Lampard believes it shouldn't have stood, but the Everton supporters didn’t care and they quickly serenaded the forward with shouts of his name as he did his trademark celebration dance in front of the South Stand.
The impressive Dewsbury-Hall made the result safe with a fine angled finish nine minutes from time - and just hours after he received another England snub from Thomas Tuchel.
But this night belonged to Barry, despite missing a chance to take the matchball home with him when he headed wide from inside the box in stoppage time.
There was, though, still enough time for the 24-year-old to hear his name sung again when he charged down Torp in stoppage time, and on this occasion he allowed himself to join in the fanfare.
Barry has now scored in three successive games for the first time for Everton and only the second time in his career. He also has six in his last seven in all competitions and has scored two more goals than he managed in his maiden campaign with the club.
His movement, positioning and awareness have also improved significantly, but beyond that, he is also winning the hearts of Everton supporters, who took the chance to serenade the forward one last time before he left the pitch.
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