Thierno Barry’s strike dents Aston Villa’s title ambitions

Aston Villa missed the opportunity to put pressure on Arsenal and move within four points of the league leaders in the Premier League title race as they were beaten 1-0 by Everton at Villa Park on Sunday evening.

The visitors almost had an early lead inside the opening 10 seconds after Jordan Pickford lumped forward a long ball to Thierno Barry, and the striker flicked it on for Merlin Rohl, whose effort struck the left upright.

At the other end, Pau Torres picked out the run of Emiliano Buendia, who laid it off for Morgan Rogers to strike, but the Englishman skied his effort.

Moments later, Ian Maatsen tried his luck from the edge of the area, but his low strike was gathered by Pickford.

In the 22nd minute, the Toffees almost got the lead after Jack Grealish met Dwight McNeil’s cross from a corner, but the winger volleyed wide before Barry struck his effort wide.

Just past the half-hour mark, Youri Tielemans set Evan Guessand through on goal with a delightful pass, but the Ivorian struck his effort straight at Pickford.

At the other end, Rohl found Vitali Mykolenko at the edge of the box, but the fullback’s powerful strike was parried away by Emiliano Martinez.

In the 34th minute, Jake O’Brien thought he had given Everton the lead when he met James Garner’s cross, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.

Just before the break, Guessand almost broke the deadlock when Tielemans picked him out with a cross at the back post, but the striker headed his effort to the woodwork.

Shortly after the restart, Matty Cash sent in an inviting cross, and Tielemans met it with a header, but his effort flashed just wide of the right post.

In the 59th minute, Barry broke the deadlock and gave the Toffees the lead after Torres lost possession at the edge of the area and McNeil forced Martinez into a routine save, but the Argentine goalkeeper was unable to gather, and Barry was there to knock home the opener.

Moments later, Maatsen picked out Rogers twice in quick succession, with his first effort blocked, and he skied his second attempt.

Nathan Patterson almost scored an own goal minutes later after the ball came off O’Brien’s shoulder and the defender fired the ball over the bar. VAR checked for a penalty but awarded no spot-kick.

The hosts continued to search for an equaliser, and in the 83rd minute, they almost got it when Everton failed to clear their lines and Lucas Digne went for the acrobatic, but his effort went straight into the gloves of Pickford.

On the stroke of full-time, Everton appealed for a penalty after Beto went down in the box under a challenge from Hemmings, but referee Tony Harrington waved away the appeals.

Deep into stoppage time, Buendia could’ve restored parity at the death, but his header from a Tielemans cross glanced wide of the left post.