Thierno Barry's Header Secures Everton Victory Over Palace
Thierno Barry needed until December to get off the mark last season. This time, he needed one game.
The 23-year-old Frenchman’s close-range header sealed a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace and, at least for an afternoon, took some of the heat off David Moyes and a transfer window he clearly does not like the look of. Everton’s strikeforce, Barry and Beto included, mustered only 18 league goals in 2025-26 and no new forwards have arrived. An early breakthrough from Barry matters.
It arrived after the mood had already shifted. For 38 minutes, this looked like the same old Everton. Same core XI, same problems, same anxiety. The only real tweak was new signing Hayden Hackney sitting in front of the back four, while midfielder Merlin Rohl again plugged the gap at right-back.
Palace should have punished them. Jean-Philippe Mateta, usually ruthless from close range, stabbed wide from inside the six-yard box and then smacked the post. Eddie Nketiah went even closer, his effort brilliantly tipped onto the same upright by an airborne Jordan Pickford. Pierre Sage’s side, without Ismaila Sarr amid strong rumours of a push for a move to Galatasaray, carved out the better chances and looked like the side with recent pedigree – FA Cup winners in 2025 and Europa Conference League champions on top of that.
Then the game flipped.
With half-time approaching, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall strode onto a loose ball and lashed a left-footed drive across Dean Henderson and into the far corner. Goodison, already charged by the sight of season ticket-holder Andy Burnham taking in his first game as Prime Minister, erupted. After seven winless matches to close last season and a European spot tossed away, this felt like a valve finally releasing.
The goal changed everything. Palace, slick and confident before the break, suddenly lost their edge. Everton, previously tentative, started playing quicker, braver passes. Hackney, neat and unfazed on his Premier League debut, began to dictate the tempo.
The second goal came from that urgency. Hackney spotted an opening, took a free-kick quickly and Iliman Ndiaye whipped in a teasing delivery with minimum backlift and maximum menace. Barry attacked it from five yards, drove his header down and beyond Henderson. Simple finish, big moment.
Ndiaye looked sharp throughout, buzzing between the lines and stretching Palace’s back line. Hackney’s calm presence gave Moyes something to cling to in a squad that still feels short in key areas. The issues are obvious: depth, goals, and a right side of defence that still looks improvised. The win does not erase those concerns, but it gives Everton a platform and their manager some breathing space.
Sage will feel the opposite. Palace created enough to win the game by the same 2-0 scoreline, only for Mateta, Nketiah and Igor Jesus to waste chances. For a club that has lifted more major trophies in the last two years than Everton have in over three decades, this was a reminder that dominance without finishing counts for nothing.
Ipswich stun Sunderland late as Clarke haunts old club
Portman Road has waited a long time for days like this. Ninety minutes into their Premier League return, it was heading for a respectable draw. Then Jack Clarke twisted the knife.
The former Sunderland winger stepped off the bench, pounced on a loose pass from Omar Alderete and, in the 90th minute, curled a low finish into the bottom corner to give Ipswich a 2-1 win and ignite the stadium. Only their second Premier League home victory in 24 years. It felt like much more.
This was the start of a new era. Gary O’Neil, appointed in June to replace long-serving Kieran McKenna, took charge of his first competitive game with six full debutants in the XI and 12 summer signings in total. The blueprint is clear: copy Sunderland’s own impressive return to the top flight, when they finished seventh in 2025-26.
For a while, the visitors threatened to play the role of seasoned teacher. After just four minutes, Trai Hume had too much time on the ball and slipped in Brian Brobbey, only for Leif Davis to race back and produce a vital block. Debutant goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen then endured a nervy moment in possession before Ipswich settled.
Once they did, their attacking talent began to show. Emersonn had already tested Robin Roefs with an early header when he struck on 24 minutes. The goal, though, belonged to Julio Enciso. The ex-Brighton forward, back after an impressive six-month loan last season, intercepted a loose pass from Luke O’Nien, glided past O’Nien and Dan Ballard, then unselfishly squared for Emersonn to slide home. A flash of Premier League quality, and a sign of what Ipswich hope Enciso will bring all season.
Sunderland hit back before the interval with a moment of their own. Granit Xhaka won a free-kick on the edge of the box in the 39th minute and Nilson Angulo stepped up. His strike was superb – over the wall, off the underside of the crossbar and in. Scherpen could only watch. At 1-1, the game felt finely balanced.
Ipswich emerged from the break with renewed intent. Abdul Fatawu twice threatened to carve out a second goal, driving at Sunderland’s back line and forcing hurried clearances. Both managers turned to their benches in search of a decisive moment.
Clarke delivered it. With full-time looming, Alderete’s wayward pass handed Ipswich possession. Sasa Lukic fed Clarke, who cut inside, opened his body and bent his shot beyond Roefs. The roar around Portman Road told its own story. For Ipswich, this was not just three points. It was proof that they belong back at this level.
Stach stuns Forest as Leeds steal it late at the City Ground
Nottingham Forest dominated the chances. Leeds took the points.
Anton Stach’s 88th-minute free-kick, whipped low in at the near post from the corner of the penalty area, earned Leeds a 1-0 win and their first victory at the City Ground since 1972. It was a classic smash-and-grab, and it stung.
Oliver Glasner’s Forest have made no secret of their ambition to push into the top half this season, but this felt painfully familiar. No new signings started. The approach was recognisable. So were the missed opportunities.
After a flat opening, the hosts sparked into life on 16 minutes when Ola Aina launched a long throw into the box. Igor Jesus met it well enough, but James Trafford stretched to claw away the header. Moments later, Aina’s full-blooded challenge on James Justin survived a VAR review for serious foul play, keeping Forest at full strength.
They thought they had the lead in the 25th minute when Harry Wilson tucked the ball home, only for the offside flag – and a subsequent check – to rule it out. Forest responded by tightening their grip. Just before the break, James McAtee delivered a perfect cross for Nikola Milenkovic, whose glancing header clipped the post. Jesus could not convert the rebound.
The pattern continued after half-time. Another Aina cross found Jesus, but his header bounced down and over from close range. Chris Wood came off the bench and soon raced through on goal from a Murillo pass, only to drag his shot wide. Trafford then tipped a looping Milenkovic effort onto the crossbar as Forest piled on the pressure.
Leeds, who only just escaped relegation last season and want to look upwards this time under Daniel Farke, had to absorb long spells without the ball. When they did threaten, it was usually from set pieces and crosses. Matz Sels produced a flying save to deny Tarik Muharemovic’s header, a warning that Leeds were not entirely passive.
Forest did not heed it. With two minutes of normal time left, Leeds won a free-kick near the corner of the area. Stach stepped up, drove his effort low and inside Sels’ near post, and turned a backs-to-the-wall display into a statement away win. Leeds now carry the psychological edge into Tuesday’s Carabao Cup rematch.
Forest, chasing a new chapter, were left staring at an all-too-familiar script: plenty of promise, no cutting edge, and nothing to show for it.
