Barry Seals Win For Unbeaten Blues

Thierno Barry's instinctive 11th-minute finish secured a 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town to extend Everton's unbeaten start to the season to seven matches.

The striker grabbed his fifth goal of the campaign when he got on the end of James Tarkowski's 20-yard drive to flick the ball into the net with his midriff.

In an action-packed game, Barry was harshly denied a second goal after heading home Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's corner – VAR intervention ruling Brennan Johnson prevented keeper Christian Walton saving the ball despite Barry nodding home via the left-hand post.

Ipswich – who had chances to level through Abdul Fatawu, Julio Enciso and Leif Davis – were reduced to 10 men when Fatawu was dismissed on 67 minutes for a second yellow card for diving.

A comfortable finish didn't follow as Everton had to hang on in the closing stages, but they did enough to head into the extended international break unbeaten and in high spirits.

After Brennan Johnson shot wide when well placed, having done well to control the ball inside the area and set himself, Barry gave the Blues the ideal start with an 11th-minute opener. When Christian Walton punched away a cross, Tarkowski tried his luck from 20 yards out, with Barry getting in the way to flick the ball off his midriff into the bottom right-hand corner for his fifth goal of the season.

That should have allowed Everton to kick on but Ipswich showed why they have adapted to life back in the Premier League with chances to level – Jordan Pickford tipping Abdul Fatawu's fierce angled drive around the post, before Leif Davis put Fatawu's cross wide from close range.

Sandwiched in between, the hosts went close again when Barry nodded inches wide after a peach of a delivery from Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Ipswich started the second half the better side but the contest should have been put out of sight when Barry found the back of the net again just before the hour mark, flicking in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's corner. Evertonians' celebrations were cut short, however, as referee Stuart Attwell was called to the monitor by VAR and ruled out the effort, adjudging Brennan Johnson was blocking keeper Christian Walton despite Barry's header curling all the way to the left-hand post.

Everton's bid for three points was made easier 10 minutes later as Fatawu – already booked in the first half for a foul – was shown a second yellow card for diving while competing for the ball with James Garner.

Moyes made changes to see out the match – Tyler Dibling particularly catching the eye three days after his player-of-the-match display against Wolves.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Ipswich still continued to threaten, however, and in seven minutes of nervous added-time, it took a crucial block from Jarrad Branthwaite to keep out Issa Diop's low drive as the Toffees held on for victory.