Thierno Barry ends goal drought as Everton beat Nottingham Forest to climb fifth

Thierno Barry finally ended his wait for a first Everton goal as the Toffees secured a 3-0 Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest, moving up to fifth in the table, Sport360NG reports.

The 23-year-old, who joined Everton from Villarreal in the summer, had endured 16 games without scoring before breaking his duck with a composed finish just before halftime. Barry rolled the ball past goalkeeper Matz Sels to double Everton’s lead, following an early opener caused by a deflected Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall cross that caught Nikola Milenkovic off guard.

Forest struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Nicolas Dominguez’s effort blocked on the line by James Tarkowski. Dewsbury-Hall, who had already threatened with a powerful strike that clipped the post, sealed the win late on by drilling a shot into the bottom corner for Everton’s third.

The victory marked a bittersweet return to Goodison Park for former Everton manager Sean Dyche, who was sacked earlier this year with the club in relegation danger. Under David Moyes, now in his second spell, Everton have shown a marked improvement and are firmly in the running for a top-half finish.

Barry’s Breakthrough

Barry’s goal will come as a relief after a challenging start to his Everton career. With fellow striker Beto also struggling for goals, the French forward was given ample opportunities and started his 10th game against Forest. Despite only registering one shot on target in his previous 16 appearances, Barry’s work rate, aerial ability, and overall contributions had earned him the support of fans.

His finish against Forest was clinical, showcasing composure and precision, and he received a standing ovation upon being substituted in the second half. The goal could mark the start of a productive scoring run for the forward.

Forest’s Setback

Nottingham Forest, under Dyche, have shown signs of improvement with five wins from 10 games since he replaced Ange Postecoglou. However, they remain in relegation danger, just three points above the drop zone, with West Ham having a game in hand.

Forest’s start was disastrous, with Nicolo Savona booked within the opening 30 seconds and conceding almost immediately after. Defensive errors led to Everton’s opening two goals, while the attack, led by Morgan Gibbs-White, struggled to make an impact. Despite the defeat, it is only Forest’s second loss in six games across all competitions, and the team will hope to move on quickly.