Thierno Barry scored a hat-trick and provided an assist as Everton defeated Preston in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Everton arrived at Deepdale looking to build on a promising start to their Premier League campaign, which opened with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Manager David Moyes named a strong lineup for the Carabao Cup second-round tie, missing only Jarrad Branthwaite and Tyrique George from the team that started the league opener. That intent paid immediate dividends against a Preston side that made seven changes following a weekend defeat to Wolves.
Thierno Barry Transforms Everton Attack with Deepdale Hat-Trick
Thierno Barry seized the spotlight with a poacher’s masterclass that rewarded Moyes’s faith. The France under-21 international scored eight goals during a challenging debut season in England but has already matched half that tally just two games into the current campaign. After scoring a header against Crystal Palace, Barry struck three times against Preston and added an assist for new signing Brennan Johnson.
The breakthrough arrived in the first half when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall chipped a precise pass over the Preston defense. Vitalii Mykolenko controlled the ball neatly and squared it for Barry to convert with ease. After the break, Barry extinguished any hopes of a Preston comeback by poking home a rebound after Lee Nicholls parried an angled drive from Dewsbury-Hall. He completed his hat-trick with a simple tap-in from Johnson’s selfless cross.
Moyes acknowledged the striker’s offseason work while demanding even more from the 23-year-old forward. Generally, he has been much better since he came back but I would still like more,
Moyes said, noting that several goals were laid on a plate while others went unconverted.
Moyes Questions Trophy Priorities Amid Transfer Window Pressures
Before the match, Moyes addressed mounting scrutiny regarding Everton’s 31-year trophy drought—the longest in the club’s history. When questioned about the importance of cup competitions this season, the Everton manager offered a spiky counter-query.
“I’ll ask you the question. Is winning a cup more important than staying in the Premier League? What would your answer be?”
David Moyes, Everton Manager, via The Guardian
The exchange highlighted the delicate balance facing Everton supporters desperate to see their club end a silverware drought that dates back to 1995. Commentators noted that Moyes’s remarks may have also targeted club owners, The Friedkin Group, over a quiet summer transfer window. With the transfer window slamming shut on Tuesday, September 1, Moyes maintains that the squad remains short on both numbers and quality, with right-back reinforcement an absolute priority.
Carabao Cup Second-Round Chaos Across the Football League
While Everton swept past second-tier opposition with a resounding win for the Scot at the stadium where he made his name in 2002, elsewhere in the Carabao Cup brought high drama and upsets. Bradford City extended Burnley’s difficult start to the season by securing a 4-2 penalty shootout victory after a scoreless draw. Bantams goalkeeper Jon McCracken saved from Jacob Bruun Larsen, sending the League One leaders through to a third-round tie against Leyton Orient.
At St James’ Park, West Brom suffered a 3-2 defeat against Newcastle United. Isaac Price scored a brace for the Baggies, including a clever 19th-minute free-kick and a second-half penalty conceded by Lewis Hall. However, former West Brom loan star Harvey Barnes came off the bench at halftime to score twice for Newcastle, netting a decisive winner in the 81st minute.
Despite the defeat, West Brom midfielder Ousmane Diakite turned in another standout performance. According to Sofascore data cited in match reports, the Mali international made six interceptions, recorded four recoveries, won the only tackle he challenged, and completed 87 per cent of his passes.
Third-Round Draw and Upcoming Fixtures
The draw for the Carabao Cup third round took place live during Sky Sports coverage of the second-round ties. Notable fixtures booked for the next stage include Liverpool facing Tottenham, Ipswich taking on Arsenal, Manchester United meeting Brighton, Coventry playing Aston Villa, and holders Manchester City squaring off against Norwich.
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