A hat-trick for Theirno Barry seals a strong Everton win

Carabao Cup: Preston NE 0 - 4 Everton

It's the 2nd Round of the Carabao Cup and Everton return to one of David Moyes's favourite spots: Preston. 

In the end, Everton's class was too good for Preston and a solid 4-0 scoreline, with a hat-trick for Thierno Barry, put them into the 3rd Round, a very important win.

He's already created a furore by suggesting it's some sort of a choice between being successful in the Premier League or going all out to try and actually win a cup... and made it clear where his priorities lie. 

The intention may be revealed in the teamsheet Moyes selects for tonight's encounter, with the message in any changes to the winning team that secured victory over Crystal Palace last Saturday.

Confirmed Lineup

David Moyes makes three changes to that side, with Jarrad Branthwaite and Hayden Hackney rested, while Jake O'Brien is on the bench. Harrison Armstrong retains his place in the side to face his former loan club after another impressive performance on Saturday. Dibling for George is the other switch. 

And on the other side, a name from Everton's recent past: Tierry Small, who spurned Everton's dubious pathway to first-team football when he left the Academy 

First Half

Dewsbury-Hall kicked off and Ndiaye was immediately fouled, Garner's free-kick swung wide and headed to the far post, showing some early intent, and then winning an early corner. Garner took it with Armstrong losing his balance.

Dibling tried to beat his man down the right but was pushed off the ball, and it went to the left where Ndiaye cut inside and shot wide, but deflected off a defender, so another corner, not a great delivery from Dewsbury-Hall.

The lively start from Everton saw Preston trying to respond with some robust physical challenges but the visitors stayed strong.

Ndiaye again drove inside but his time rolled it to Dibling who rolled a feeble shot straight at Nicholls.   Ndiaye and Barry tried to drive through the middle, but were crowded out, winning another corner, which this time was overhit by Dewsbury-Hall. 

After the pacey start, the all-Blues went for more control from depth to defuse any response from Preston. Armstrong then stole a ball and drove forward impressively, Ndiaye somehow committing a foul. 

With no breakthrough in the first 15 minutes, Everton's approach was more measured but Röhl did overlap, his cross punched away by Nicholls. That saw a counter by Preston and their first attempt, dealt with by Pickford. Barry was then played in over the top but just wasn't strong enough to beat the defender or the keeper, or hit the ball with any force. 

Everton tried to work it in but couldn't penetrate; Mykolenko eventually crossing and Dibling making space for a shot that was horribly wayward. Preston got forward again but nothing came of it and Everton resumed but were going nowhere until Keane tried a ridiculous one from 40 yards, another horribly wayward effort.

But finally a decent opportunity developed: Mykolenko's run spotted by Dewsbury-Hall with a super ball over the top, and the Ukrainian laid it on a plate for Thierno Barry (26'). 

Dewsbury-Hall tried to force another chance but his direct approach was blocked. A really nice move down the right and inside collapsed after a great one-two when Dewsbury-Hall tripped over his foot just as he was about to score the second goal!

Rohl had to stand firm against Vukcevic, and Preston were stalled. Ndiaye played a through-ball for Barry, but it was overhit.

Good approach play from Dewsbury-Hall saw Barry set up nicely in the dee but his pass-back to the Preston keeper was pathetically weak. Dibling tried to get forward, but his shot was blocked. 

Rohl completely missed a forward ball from Preston and fortunately the resulting shot from Leroy was well over Pickford and the Everton goal. 

Dibling was not getting much change out of Vukcevic. He switched across toward the left and spun well to lash a shot against the foot of the post. Small did some good work to get a cross over and it needed defending. 

Half-time and Everton with a modest one-goal lead.

Second Half

Preston restarted but Everton got the ball forward, Barry shooting poorly form a long way out.  At the other end, a rare mistake from Armstrong led to a moment of panic for the Blues at the back. But they countered and Dewsbury-Hall should have done a lot better than shooting straight at Nicholls. Nothing came from Garner's decent corner. 

Ndiaye lost the ball in midfield and Everton had to defend again. Barry tried to run in  but went down under a challange a bit too easoly in the area under pressure, winning only a corner that was headed clear, Mykolenko firing well over from distance. 

Ndiaye did well to make some space and put it onto Barry's head but his effort was put wide. Ndiaye tried to be too clever going into the Preston area and lost the ball. Everton were not controlling the game by any means, with 55 minutes gone and a slender lead. 

Armstrong did brilliantly to steal the ball but Garner's panicked shot spun well wide. Armstrong swung in a nice cross, but Barry could not get his head on it. A poor moment for Barry as a Preston player just darted in front of him to steal a pass.

But Ndiaye finaly jinked his way in, released the ball to Dewsbury-Hall, who spun and shot from a narrow angle, the ball punched out by Nicholls to Theirno Barry (59') and bouncing off him into the net for Everton's second goal. 

Tarkowski was totally embarrassed down the wing, so easily shoved off the ball and Everton had to close ranks to keep it tight. Lang produced an incredible acrobatic bicycle kick that Pickford had to paw away with a great save. 

Ndiaye got a great chance to run in on goal but just totally failed to dhoot when he could and Valentin made a great saving block to dispossess him. A classic demonstration, as if one was needed, of the lack of end product from Everton's dazzling star.

Barry bundled a bouncing ball back to Dewsbury-Hall running in but he could not direct his shot in anything like the right direction. Everton's shooting had been terrible but, with 20 minutes left, Thierno Barry (70') just walked the ball into the net after Dewsbury-Hall found Johnson with a lovely pass and he laid it on a plate for the big galoot to get his hat-trick! 

Less than 2 minutes later and Brennan Johnson (72') this time took it himself after an excellent pass from Barry, his low shot beating Nicholls.  

Preston had made wholesale changes and were trying their best to get on the scoresheet. George equally wanted to score, his trademark curler well wide of the angle after some wonderful ball control. Aznou and George made a wonderful couple of dancing feet, while not really threatening.

At the other end, Preston could not threaten from a free-kick. Armstrong had a chance to run forward but his finish was poor, well wide of the far post. 

In the end, Everton's class was too good for Preston and a solid 4-0 scoreline, with a hat-trick for Thierno Barry, put them into the 3rd Round, a very important win, that Moyes absolutely had to produce after his stupid vacillations in yesterday's presser. 

Teamsheets

Preston NE: Nicholls, Valentin, Storey, Gibson, Vukcevic, Thompson, Leroy (60' Devine), Small (60' McCann (85' Gryba)), Moran, Burgzorg (60' Clarke), Erabi (60' Lang). 

Subs not Used: Iversen, Lindsay, Hughes, Nolan.

Everton: Pickford, Röhl, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner (64' Johnson), Armstrong, Dewsbury-Hall (81' Alcaraz), Dibling (64' Patterson), Ndiaye (81' George), Barry (81' Aznou).

Subs not Used: Travers, Beto, O'Brien, Foster.

Attendance: 16,834

Match Officials

Referee: Tony Harrington
Assistant Referee 1: Richard Woodward
Assistant Referee 2: Jacob Graham
Fourth Official: Ollie Yates

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