Everton continued their impressive start to the season, edging past a resilient Ipswich Town side to move into fifth place in the Premier League table. The only goal came in the eleventh minute, when Thierno Barry cleverly redirected James Tarkowski’s long range effort past the goalkeeper, marking his fifth strike of the campaign.
The Frenchman nearly added a second with a diving header that drifted wide, and later thought he had scored again from a corner, only for the effort to be chalked off after Brennan Johnson was flagged offside while positioned in front of the keeper.
Ipswich, chasing just their third top flight win this season, pushed hard for an equaliser. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was outstanding, denying Emersonn, Abdul Fatawu, Julio Enciso and Abdoul Ouattara in quick succession, while Emersonn and Leif Davis both spurned decent openings. The visitors’ task grew harder when Fatawu picked up a second yellow card for simulation, reducing them to ten men.
David Moyes will be pleased with how his squad has adapted despite losing key attackers Iliman Ndiaye and Beto in deadline day transfers. Barry has emerged as the focal point of the attack, now boasting five goals this term including a hat trick in the Carabao Cup. Jack Grealish also made his first league start of the season, receiving warm applause from supporters after being withdrawn late on.
For Ipswich boss Gary O’Neil, there were plenty of positives despite the defeat. His side battled gamely even after going down to ten men, and head into the international break with six points from five matches, a respectable return for a newly promoted club navigating the top flight.
