A round-up of how the national media reported on Everton's 3-1 Premier League comeback victory over Coventry City at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Friday night
Thierno Barry celebrates after scoring Everton's second goal against Coventry City
Thierno Barry celebrates after scoring Everton's second goal against Coventry City(Image: (Peter Byrne/Press Association))
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Thierno Barry scored twice as Everton came from behind to beat Coventry City at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Barry scored twice in five second-half minutes to cancel out Yann Gboho’s opener for Frank Lampard’s side.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall then sealed all three points for his side nine minutes from time on what was a landmark night for Blues boss David Moyes, who equalled Harry Catterick's record for games as manager of Everton. Barry’s brace now means he has scored 10 goals in 13 games in all competitions so far this season.
And below is a round-up of how the national media reported on the victory that moved Everton up to fifth in the table.
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'Looking forward rather than over their shoulder'
Writing in the Telegraph, Chris Bacombe, formerly of this parish, said: “If Everton’s wantaway owners find a buyer for the club, an honourable gesture would be to ensure David Moyes gets a significant portion of any profit. They might also give a cut to Thierno Barry if a sale materialises with Everton in Europe.
“Whatever the value of the Merseyside club when the Friedkin Group made its purchase, it is increasing weekly; Moyes’s side are now level with fourth-placed Chelsea after this victory over Coventry City.
“As Frank Lampard can testify after Barry struck twice in five minutes after Yann Gboho gave his side a deserved lead, this is a different Everton to the one he left. They are looking forward rather than over their shoulder – although the Coventry manager admitted he found the stirring second-half comeback familiar as the growing union between team and support yielded a result which looked unlikely for 56 minutes.”
'Thierno Barry ensured his own name was up in lights'
Over at The Times, Paul Joyce wrote: “No one in Everton’s history has now managed more games than David Moyes and his 592nd match in charge felt like it followed the course of so many of those preceding assignments.
“A half-time rollocking, a crowd on edge and then a player he is helping to squeeze the very most out of his talent coming to the fore.
“Thierno Barry ensured his own name was up in lights alongside that of Moyes, who equalled former title-winning manager Harry Catterick’s tally, as two goals in a five-minute spell checked Coventry City’s momentum.
“The striker still drives Moyes to distraction — and there was evidence of that in a dreary opening half when he made poor decisions — but his poacher’s instinct was also evident and he now boasts more goals [ten] across the Premier League and League Cup than any other top-flight player this term.”
Jack Grealish (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
Jack Grealish (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
'Team and striker defying all expectations'
While Andy Hunter, writing for the Guardian, said: “The wildly optimistic Evertonian – if such a being exists – could not have envisaged David Moyes’ side fifth in the Premier League with Thierno Barry just behind Erling Haaland in the goalscoring chart when their transfer window closed in calamitous fashion. Yet there they sit, team and striker defying all expectations, following a stirring comeback against luckless Coventry.
“Frank Lampard endured a torturous night against his old club as Coventry impressed but were refused two strong penalty claims. The Coventry manager felt his team were denied a third time by the video assistant referee for an apparent handball by Barry when edging Everton ahead. Replays were inconclusive. It was the dancing French forward’s second goal of the game and 10th in all competitions this season. He also delivered a fine assist for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as the in-form midfielder put his latest England disappointment behind him to seal victory in convincing style.”
Before he added: “Equalling Catterick’s collection of two league titles and an FA Cup may be beyond Moyes, who is in the final year of his Everton contract and working in very different times, but what he is doing with the smallest squad in the Premier League ranks as an achievement itself.”
'It could prove to be a special season'
And Michael Plant reporting for the Daily Mail wrote: “Maybe Everton should request to play under the lights every week. It certainly seems to push David Moyes' team to new heights.
“Following hot on the heels of consecutive night victories over Newcastle United, Friday's 3-1 win against Coventry City was a reminder of why, under Moyes, there is renewed sense of optimism at Everton.
“Up to fifth, above Liverpool, and in a Carabao Cup quarter-final at Fleetwood, it could prove to be a special season.
“This always felt like a big task for Frank Lampard, back at Everton for the first time since his sacking in 2023.
“Popular as the ex-manager may be, there's no room for sentiment, certainly not from Moyes on a night he took charge of his 592nd game, drawing level with Harry Catterick for managing the most games in the club's history.
“He'll set it outright after the international break against Brentford and Keith Andrews, who was 21 when Moyes first took up the reins at Everton.”
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