Everton's European ambitions received a significant boost, and striker Thierno Barry finally ended his personal goal drought, in a commanding 3-0 Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.
Barry's Breakthrough Moment
The game's narrative was dominated by the 22-year-old French forward Thierno Barry, who scored his first goal for the club since a £27 million summer move from Villarreal. After a frustrating first half where he struggled against Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic, Barry's moment arrived deep into added time. Found by Iliman Ndiaye on a swift counter-attack, Barry displayed impressive composure to slot home a first-time finish, sparking jubilant celebrations across the stadium.
Manager David Moyes had shown faith in the youngster, handing him a sixth consecutive start ahead of the more experienced Beto, and was finally rewarded. The goal came after 737 minutes of Premier League football for Barry, who had made 17 appearances prior without finding the net.
Forest's Painful Afternoon
The visitors' afternoon was defined by a nightmare start and a toothless performance. They fell behind after just 82 seconds when Nikola Milenkovic turned a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall cross into his own net. Forest, who famously won at Anfield a fortnight prior, failed to register a shot on target until the second half and were punished for a defensive lapse late on.
The result was a particularly bitter pill for former Everton boss Sean Dyche, now in charge of Forest, on his first return to Merseyside. Despite his past successes in keeping Everton afloat, he was comprehensively outmanoeuvred by his successor.
European Shake-Up Gathers Pace
The comprehensive win, Everton's fourth in five matches, lifts them to within a single point of the Premier League's top four. This represents a remarkable achievement for Moyes, who has engineered this surge despite a striker shortage and a midfield decimated by suspensions and injury.
Everton's dominance was sealed when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who had earlier hit the post, drilled home a third from a corner in the latter stages. The victory solidifies their status as genuine contenders for European qualification, marking a dramatic turnaround in their season's fortunes.
