Aston Villa 0 Everton 1: Thierno Barry capitalises on Pau Torres clanger to hand Arsenal massive tit

Описание: THIERNO BARRY pointed to himself after flooring Villa as if to ask: “What’s all the fuss about?”

It has almost been a running joke on Merseyside about how long it’s taken for the Frenchman to break his goalscoring duck.

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Thierno Barry got the only goal of the gameCredit: Reuters

Barry had struggled for goals but is now enjoying a hot streakCredit: AFP

But after finally doing so last month, it appears habit-forming.

A lovely dinked finish over Emi Martinez stopped Unai Emery’s men in their tracks as they looked to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to just four points.

It has looked at times as though the 23-year-old has been more Bambi on Ice rather than ice-cold in front of goal.

But after Villa’s keeper could only push Dwight McNeil’s effort to one side, Barry was there to produce a moment of skill in front of goal that few thought he was capable of.

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Perhaps that explained the goal reaction – but whatever, Villa only had themselves to blame for a moment of slapstick defending that ended costing them dear.

In fact, Everton had started with a game plan – and could have profited from it within the first few moments of the match.

Martin Rohl sent an effort into the upright inside the first 11 seconds. The midfielder reacted quickest after Jordan Pickford thumped a ball upfield.

Barry held off Pau Torres, the ball bouncing up off his knee.

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When it came down, Rohl fired off a shot that went beyond keeper Martinez, only to crash into the foot of the post.

But the Toffees were then relieved that Rogers, making his 100th appearance in claret and blue, didn’t mark the occasion by responding a few moments later.

Emi Buendia escaped down the left and waited for the England man to find space. He managed to – but succeeded only in lifting his shot above the crossbar from 12 yards.

But Villa suffered a blow in the 18th minute when skipper John McGinn lay on the turf, pointing at the inside of his right knee.

The Scotland international limped out of the action moments later and was replaced by Evann Guessand.

There was a puncturing of the atmosphere inside Villa Park as McGinn has been the very embodiment of everything good about the club’s resurgence under Emery.

But while they could count themselves unlucky not to be leading by the interval, they also enjoyed a major let off.

Everton’s short corner routine in the 33rd minute allowed James Garner the chance to cross to the far post where Jake O’Brien nodded home.

However, Moyes’ players had hardly finished whooping with delight when their celebrations were cut short by the assistant’s flag.

Harrison Armstrong had strayed into an offside position when Garner cross but with Villa Park holding its collective breath, VAR came down on the side of the hosts.

Armstrong had been adjudged to have