Thierno Barry is the face of Everton's surprising early-season form, scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town. The win at Goodison Park extends the Toffees' unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign to four matches, leaving them ninth in the table on six points.
Barry's fifth goal of the season arrived in the 11th minute, though its nature was somewhat fortuitous. James Tarkowski's powerful volley from distance struck the forward in the chest and deflected past Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton. Manager David Moyes acknowledged the unusual nature of the strike. "The goal is fairly unfortunate to go in off the guy's midriff," he said. "But we have tried to turn it into a positive."
Everton had to withstand periods of pressure, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford making important stops from Abdul Fatawu and Julio Enciso. Pickford's performance helped secure a fifth clean sheet in all competitions, three of which have come in the last eight days. The England number one summed up the team's resilient attitude. "You have to dig in, that's the Everton way," Pickford said.
The hosts also saw a second Barry goal ruled out by VAR for offside against Brennan Johnson, while the striker later headed wide from an Ainsley Maitland-Niles cross. Moyes was pleased with the volume of opportunities created, if not the finishing. "Statistically we have been making much more chances," the manager noted. "Today we had 21 shots and only two on target so that is not any good. But the 21 shots is good."
This result, following a 1-0 win over Wolves, gives Everton a two-game winning streak. Their recent form shows two wins and three draws from the last five outings. The team has scored five goals and conceded just three in the league so far, a solid defensive foundation. You can review the full sequence of results on the club's fixtures page.
The victory also highlights an impressive overachievement relative to spending. While Ipswich invested almost £200 million in their squad, Everton finished low in the summer's spending charts. Yet, with a new £800 million stadium on the horizon, performances like this offer genuine optimism. The current standings show Everton just six points behind early leaders Arsenal.
Everton will be without several players for their next challenge. Teenager Harrison Armstrong, who was considered for a sale to Nottingham Forest, is currently sidelined along with Christian Nørgaard and Merlin Röhl. Their absence will be felt ahead of a tough trip to face fifth-placed Hull City on October 11. The full list of unavailable players is tracked on the club's injuries page.
David Moyes's side now has a break before that fixture, time to build on a start that has defied pre-season expectations. The manager admitted that the team's chance creation has been strong in many matches this season. Barry's scrappy winner against Ipswich, a moment of luck born from persistent pressure, perfectly encapsulates their current spirit.
This story first appeared at Yahoo Sports
Everton are now fifth in the Premier League with nine points from five games, after the 1-0 win over Ipswich. Manager David Moyes bluntly dismissed talk of European qualification. "We are not using those words this year," he said. Moyes also criticised his side's finishing, despite creating chances. The club's unbeaten start includes draws at Tottenham and Bournemouth, with a trip to Hull City next.
