Thierno becomes second-best Barry to inspire Everton against luckless Coventry
On the night David Moyes tied the record for most matches as Everton manager, his one and only centre-forward became the Premier League’s second-highest scoring Barry. Decide for yourself which is most impressive.
Thierno Barry’s brace turned a tricky clash with Coventry in Everton’s favour just as the Toffees’ momentum looked to be fading. Instead, with a 3-1 victory, the hosts move above Liverpool into fifth – for now – and the striker goes ahead of Barry Hayles into second, 39 behind Gareth Barry.
Before Barry bagged his ninth and 10th goals of the season, a landmark match for Moyes threaten to turn sour by the hand of one of eight managers to boss Everton between the Scot’s two spells.
Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues were the better team for the 56 minutes before Barry’s headed equaliser. The visitors edged a frantic first half and, again, flew out of the blocks after the break – they have scored more goals between half time and the hour than anyone else – deservedly going ahead when Yann Gboho twisted, turned and teased Jarrad Branthwaite before bypassing the Everton defender and Jordan Pickford with a deft finish from close range.
And Lampard doubtless feels that Coventry ought to have had a penalty or two prior to that.
James Tarkowski got away with a hair pull in the midst of an aerial duel just before half-time and, after the restart, Taiwo Awoniyi was floored by Vitali Mykolenko. VAR deemed the contact to be outside the box, though surely not with any great certainty.
The absence of conclusive proof condemned Coventry too when they went behind. Barry’s first goal was a clinical, clean header; his second must be the scruffiest he will score all season.
In the process of being bundled beyond Carl Rushworth and over the line, there was a question of whether the ball brushed Barry’s hand. The VAR official decided not. “That’s definitely not hand,” Timothy Wood told Stuart Atwell, evidently more confident of what he had seen than anyone else squinting at each frame.
Fortune certainly did not favour Coventry. In contrast, the ball is bouncing for Barry as it does when a striker hits the kind of purple patch the 24-year-old is currently in.
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Moyes can only hope that Barry is capable of maintaining his current momentum. If that slows – it is hard to shake the inevitability that it will – at least Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s form is similarly as strong and perhaps more sustainable.
The attacking midfielder channelled his frustration over his England omission into an 81st-minute drive that dissected Rushworth and his near post. That capped a 25-minute frenzy for Everton, killing off Coventry, who faded gradually after the lead they worked so hard to gain slipped.
The reaction to going behind must please Moyes more than anything else in his 592nd match in charge. Prior to that, it seemed their attempt to navigate a gruelling season with a paper-thin squad was finally backfiring. And it may well yet.
But three wins from three games in eight days is evidence that this Everton is made of stern stuff. There is no weakness in their spine, and if Moyes can find the right formula on either flank, then the Toffees will be well placed to maintain their impressive momentum, with the two sides overtaken tonight – Brentford and Liverpool – up next.
