Everton Beat Coventry 3-1 as Barry Double Sends Toffees Fifth

Everton came from behind to beat Coventry City 3-1 at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Friday night, as Thierno Barry scored twice in five minutes to fire David Moyes and his team into fifth place in the Premier League.

Coventry, managed by former Everton boss Frank Lampard, led early in the second half and looked set to frustrate the home crowd. Instead, Barry struck in the 56th and 61st minutes, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall added a third nine minutes from time to complete a third successive win for Everton, who moved above Liverpool into fifth.

Coventry strike first

A goalless first half ended with the visitors on top. Coventry appealed for a penalty when James Tarkowski appeared to pull the hair of Caleb Yirenkyi as they challenged for a cross, but no action followed after a VAR check. A second appeal, for a challenge by Vitalii Mykolenko on Taiwo Awoniyi, was ruled to have taken place just outside the box.

Seven minutes after the restart, Coventry broke through. The ball bounced around the area and Yann Gboho, surrounded by three Everton players, poked a shot that appeared to take Jordan Pickford by surprise as it crept over the line. It was Gboho's first goal for Coventry, in only his second league appearance.

Barry turns the match

The lead lasted four minutes. Mykolenko crossed from the left and Barry, barely needing to leave the ground, headed in the equaliser. Five minutes later Barry was at the far post again, outjumping Jay Dasilva and bundling the ball in off his midriff as goalkeeper Carl Rushworth could not keep it out.

Barry, 24, has now scored in three successive games for the first time as an Everton player. He has six goals in his last seven matches in all competitions and 10 for the season. Press Association reported that only Erling Haaland, with nine league goals, has scored more in the Premier League this season.

Dewsbury-Hall made the result safe in the 81st minute with an angled finish, his latest goal contribution in a strong run of form from midfield.

A landmark night for Moyes

The match was Moyes's 592nd in charge of Everton, equalling the club record held by Harry Catterick. Before the game, Moyes had joked that Haaland should be worried about Barry's form. The joke landed well by the final whistle, even if Haaland's lead at the top of the scoring chart remains safe for now.

There was also news on Jack Grealish. He has missed the last four matches after the club disciplined him for missing training. Press Association reported that he returned to the Finch Farm training ground earlier in the day to begin a tailored programme, and is likely to return to the first team after the international break.

On November 2, Barry scored the only goal as Everton won 1-0 at Newcastle United. Four days later, his double decided another match, and Everton head into the break fifth in the table.