Everton's Thierno Barry finally broke his duck, scoring the third goal in a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, propelling Everton up to fifth place in the Premier League. Barry, who joined from Villarreal in the summer, had been without a goal in 16 games, but his 19th shot, his second on target, proved decisive.
Everton's dream start was set by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's early cross, which deflected off Nikola Milenkovic and into the net. They extended their lead just before halftime when Iliman Ndiaye led a counter-attack, feeding Barry to roll the ball past goalkeeper Matz Sels.
Nottingham Forest struggled to create chances, with Nicolas Dominguez's effort blocked on the line by James Tarkowski. Dewsbury-Hall's powerful strike hit the post, but he added a late third by drilling a strike into the bottom corner.
The win was bittersweet for former Everton manager Sean Dyche, who returned to an unhappy homecoming after being sacked earlier in the year. Dyche's replacement, David Moyes, has overseen a significant improvement, keeping Everton in the top-10 race.
Barry's goal came after a difficult period, with the 23-year-old striker struggling for goals. Despite his lack of success, Barry is popular for his hard work and header-winning abilities. The goal eases the pressure on Barry, who is now expected to build on this performance.
Nottingham Forest, under Dyche, have recorded five wins in 10 games, but they remain in relegation danger. Their poor start included a booking for Nicolo Savona within 30 seconds and conceding the opener just over a minute later. Despite their defensive issues, Forest will hope to bounce back from their second defeat in six games.
