Thierno Barry's First Hat-Trick Leads Everton Past Preston
Thierno Barry walked off with the match ball and a statement performance as Everton tore into Preston North End to book a Carabao Cup third-round tie at home to Wolves.
The summer signing struck his first hat-trick for the club, while fellow new arrival Brennan Johnson finally ended his own wait for a goal in an emphatic win that never really felt in doubt.
Moyes goes strong – and Everton go for the throat
Back at a club that helped shape his early career, David Moyes showed little sentiment towards his former side. The Everton manager, who spent four years in charge at Deepdale, named a strong XI, making only three changes from the opening Premier League victory over Crystal Palace.
It set the tone. Everton were on the front foot almost immediately, pinning Preston back and moving the ball with a sharpness that the Championship side struggled to live with.
The breakthrough came on 25 minutes and it was as simple as it was slick. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall split the defence with a superb pass, Vitalii Mykolenko burst onto it down the left and drilled the ball across goal. Barry, alive to the chance, arrived in the six-yard box to tap in his first of the night.
Preston’s brief flicker
Paul Heckingbottom, still searching for a first league win of the season after two winless Championship outings, rolled the dice with seven changes from the weekend defeat by Wolves. For a brief spell, it looked like his rotated side might yet drag themselves back into the tie.
Leo Leroy found space in the area and had a clear sight of goal, only to fail to hit the target with a decent opening that could have changed the mood inside the ground.
That warning jolted Everton, but Preston kept swinging. Tyler Dibling rattled the post with a crisp effort, while Iliman Ndiaye, bright and inventive, whipped in a teasing cross that Barry could only glance just wide with his head.
Those moments felt big at the time. They looked even bigger once Everton clicked back into gear.
Barry takes over
The pressure finally told again just before the hour. Dewsbury-Hall, at the heart of Everton’s best work, unleashed a fierce drive from the edge of the area. Preston goalkeeper Lee Nicholls could only parry the strike back into danger and Barry reacted quicker than anyone, adjusting his feet to steer the rebound into the net for his second.
Preston tried to respond. Callum Lang forced Jordan Pickford into action with an ambitious overhead kick that at least gave the travelling fans something to stir for, but it was a fleeting moment of resistance.
On 70 minutes, Barry completed his hat-trick with the most polished goal of the lot. Everton carved Preston open with a flowing move, substitute Johnson bursting free on the flank before sliding a low cross into the box. Barry timed his run perfectly and swept the ball home to seal the match ball and the tie in one swing.
Johnson finally off the mark
Once Barry had his treble, it was Johnson’s turn to breathe. Signed from Crystal Palace in the summer, the forward had gone since November without a goal. That run ended with 18 minutes to play.
This time Barry turned provider, threading a smart through ball into Johnson’s path. The finish was calm and clinical, a low strike tucked neatly into the corner to round off a dominant night for the Premier League side.
Barry now sits on four goals for the season, adding this hat-trick to his strike in the 2-0 win over Palace. The only concern for Everton came late on as the in-form forward appeared to pick up a knock before being withdrawn.
With Wolves next up in the third round and Barry already in full stride, Moyes may spend the coming days hoping the man of the night is fit enough to keep this early-season surge going.
