Barry’s strike gives Everton victory as Villa miss chance to move second

Aston Villa missed the chance to go second behind Premier League leaders Arsenal as Everton secured a deserved victory at Villa Park.

Unai Emery’s in-form side had won their previous 11 games at Villa Park, but Everton pulled off another excellent win on their travels through Thierno Barry’s composed strike.

Everton almost stunned Villa Park after only 11 seconds when Merlin Rohl broke on to a long clearance, only to the hit post with a low finish.

Manager David Moyes was then frustrated when Jake O’Brien’s header from a corner was ruled out, the video assistant referee adjudging Harrison Armstrong was offside.

Villa had opportunities of their own, substitute Evann Guessand – on for captain John McGinn after he sustained a knee injury early on – heading against the bar with Everton keeper Jordan Pickford flat-footed.

But it was Barry who broke the deadlock after 59 minutes, pouncing with a quality lofted finish after Villa keeper Emi Martinez made a hash of a routine save from Dwight McNeil’s shot following careless defending.

Villa, inevitably, responded and it took an athletic flying save from Pickford to deny England team-mate Morgan Rogers.

They remain level with Manchester City on 43 points – seven behind Arsenal – but below them in the table because of a vastly inferior goal difference.

Aston Villa went into this meeting with Everton on a high and with their sights set on closing the gap on Premier League pace-setters Arsenal to four points.

Instead, they were left with no complaints about a defeat in which Everton showed the greater desire as Emery’s side showed none of the qualities that have pushed them towards the top of the table.

Villa may have been unsettled by the early injury to McGinn, but this was a lacklustre performance that lacked drive and urgency.

Rogers threatened on occasions, while Evann Guessand hit the woodwork, but even the normally atmospheric Villa Park seemed resigned to defeat before the end.

And keeper Martinez must take the blame for his flamboyant attempt to make a routine save, pushing the ball out to Barry, who accepted the gift with style.

Emery cut an increasingly agitated figure on the sidelines as his side ran out of ideas in the face of Everton’s resilience and threat on the break.

Villa are still in an outstanding position, but this was a rare painful day of disappointment for the manager and his players.

Everton manager David Moyes beamed broadly in front of an elated travelling support after their finest win of the season, toppling an Aston Villa side tipped as Premier League title dark horses.

They were on top from the opening whistle, literally, as Rohl hit the woodwork in the opening seconds.

Everton were first to most things in the physical exchanges, while also posing a threat on the break throughout.

The game was a personal triumph for striker Barry, who has struggled this season but has now scored three goals in his past four games.

Martinez’s error gave him his chance, but Barry showed a real touch of class to lift the ball over the keeper and he tried to recover his mistake.

And 23-year-old German midfield Rohl had his best game since signing on loan from SC Freiburg, while 18-year-old Harrison Armstrong also showed why he is regarded so highly by Moyes.

On the rare occasions Villa did threaten, keeper Pickford was solid behind the central defensive partnership of James Tarkowski and Jake O’Brien.

If Everton can resolve indifferent home form, they may yet fulfil Moyes’ ambition of pushing towards the European places.