Thierno Barry netted Everton’s winner in a 1-0 win at Aston Villa to dent the Villains’ Premier League title dreams.
Barry lashed in the Toffees’ 59th-minute winner on the rebound at Villa Park, after Emiliano Martinez parried Dwight McNeil’s shot into his path.
Villa remained third in the table and seven points off the summit, whilst Everton climbed to tenth in the table.
Aware that victory would of lifted them up to second and four points off league leaders, Arsenal, Villa received an immediate scare 12 seconds after kick-off as Everton’s Jordan Pickford played a long ball up the pitch, but Merlin Rohl fired Barry’s knockdown header onto the left post.
Villa however nearly hit back five minutes later after Emiliano Buendia won possession up the left and cut into the box to tee up Morgan Rogers, who rifled his shot over the bar.
Ian Maatsen then saw a shot saved six minutes later as Villa controlled the attacking press, yet Everton stood firm and Vitaliy Mykolenko’s 32nd-minute shot was tipped over by Emiliano Martinez.
Everton’s subsequent corner was played short to Jack Grealish and curled into the far right post, which Jake O’Brien nodded in but his effort was ruled out due to Harrison Armstrong’s offside position.
O’Brien then made a crucial block to deny Rogers’ shot from close range in the 36th minute as the Toffees’ defensive marking and positioning proved resilient for all of Villa’s attacking press and movement until half time.
Youri Tielemans put a 50th-minute header wide as Villa continued to up the pressure after half time, whilst Rogers was fouled by James Garner just outside of the box in the 57th minute, yet referee – Tony Harrington dismissed his appeals for a free-kick.
Everton eventually broke the deadlock two minutes later after Pau Torres carelessly played the ball loose into space from which McNeil pounced with a curled shot towards the left corner, which Martinez could only parry to the feet of Barry who bent his shot into the right corner.
Rogers’ frustrations continued as he put two shots wide before his third attempt to level the match was tipped over the bar by Pickford.
Everton eventually saw the game out to ensure that the top-flight’s top four teams all failed to win for the second straight matchweek, after Tielemans’ 94th-minute cross was headed wide of the left corner by Buendia.
What’s Next?
Villa turn their attention to the Europa League with a trip to Fenerbahce on Thursday 22 January at 5:45pm UK Time, before they visit Newcastle on Sunday 25 January in their next league match at 2pm.
Everton’s next league game sees them host Leeds on Monday 26 January at 8pm at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Teams
Aston Villa: Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde (Hemming 73′), Youri Tielemans, John McGinn (Guessand 18′), Morgan Rogers, Emiliano Buendia, Ollie Watkins
Substitutes: Marco Bizot, Lucas Digne, Andres Garcia, George Hemmings, Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, Tyrone Mings, Victor Lindelöf, Evann Guessand, James Wright
Everton: Jordan Pickford, Nathan Patterson, James Tarkowski, Jake O’Brien, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Merlin Rohl, James Garner, Dwight McNeil, Harrison Armstrong, Jack Grealish, Thierno Barry (Beto 84′)
Substitutes: Amadou Aznou, Seamus Coleman, Tyler Dibling, Beto, Tom King, Mark Travers, Reece Welch, Elijah Campbell
Referee – Tony Harrington
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