Thierno Barry scored but missed a hat-trick of chances as Everton drew 2-2 at Hull City, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall praising the striker's mentality despite his mixed afternoon at the MKM Stadium.
Evertonians would have been cursing the centre-forward after he missed three opportunities, the last of which was gilt-edged, but moments later they were hailing him after he showed composure to slot a fine finish past Konstantinos Tzolakis and put the Blues in front.
His goal did not prove to be the winner as Hull benefited from further poor defending to earn a share of the spoils and continue their own impressive start to the campaign.
Dewsbury-Hall backs Barry after tough love
Barry received praise from Dewsbury-Hall, who had set up the striker to score after earlier bringing Everton level. The midfielder, speaking to Sky Sports after the draw, said: "I really like his mentality. He's one of the most hardest-working players I've played with. He's always working trying to improve."
"We have a love-hate relationship because I expect so much of him and sometimes I probably annoy him. But he's come back and he's got really hungry and he's improving every game."
"I like the fact he said he should have scored three. He's scored today, he's helped us get a point, but I know for a fact he'll continue to work, and I'm going to keep wanting more for him only because I like him and I want the best for him and I want him to continue to score."
Barry now has six goals for the season with three coming in the Premier League. No player in the top flight has more missed big chances than the Frenchman, whose tally of 10 is double the amount of the five players below him with five.
He was not the only player who should have done better in front of goal for the Blues, who had eight big chances compared to Hull's two. The big positive for Barry is that he keeps getting the opportunities, and with more work on the training ground to sharpen his finishing, the 23-year-old has the chance to really kick on and keep Everton in the hunt for European football.
Defensive issues exposed
Ainsley Maitland-Niles had a testing afternoon on Humberside as he was largely at fault for the two goals Everton conceded, though he was not completely at fault. Jarrad Branthwaite did not cover himself in glory for both goals either, while for the latter James Garner and Jordan Pickford may also feel they could have done more to keep Mohamed Belloumi's effort out of the net.
The Blues were not helped by the loss of Vitalii Mykolenko to an injury that required Branthwaite to shift from centre-back to left-back. While appearing to be dogged by a knock he did everything to shrug off, Branthwaite struggled in the position at times and was missed from the centre of the defence.
James Tarkowski was excellent in the first half and Michael Keane, who came in for Mykolenko, was solid enough, but Everton are a better side with Branthwaite at the heart of their backline. Three clean sheets in the previous six Premier League outings are a testament to that.
Moyes' hands have been tied by the shambolic end to the transfer window that has left him just one senior left-back, along with one recognised right-back and striker, and that has been followed by The Friedkin Group putting the club up for sale less than two years after buying it. For free-scoring Chelsea's visit next weekend, Branthwaite needs to be back alongside Tarkowski even if Mykolenko is ruled out again.
Reasons to be positive
Moyes made it clear after the game that he was not happy with the performance, but when the dust settles, the Blues boss may see it as a point gained. It extended his side's unbeaten start to the campaign in all competitions to eight matches and ensured they finished the weekend sitting fifth in the Premier League table.
Hull are no mugs either. Dewsbury-Hall's deft header was the first goal they have conceded at home this season and, as they have proven in every outing since their promotion to the top flight, they are certainly not here to make up the numbers.
Credit to the Everton players who endured difficult games, too. Maitland-Niles bounced back from his mistake for Joe Gelhardt's opener to set up the equaliser for Dewsbury-Hall, who was back to his best after a slight drop in his own high standards before the international break. And then there was Barry, who kept going and eventually got his reward.
This is a Blues team, led by Moyes, whose demeanour in his pre-match press conference on Friday was exactly what the fan base needed, that is committed and fighting for the badge after the tough hand they were dealt following the closure of the transfer window. That spirit, matched with a set of supporters who are at their very best when the chips are down, gives reason to be positive despite the fact the club is set to enter yet another period of uncertainty.
