Thierno Barry proved decisive once again, netting three times and providing the assist for the fourth goal as Everton comfortably advanced to the third round of the Carabao Cup with a 4-0 triumph over Preston at Deepdale. The French forward, who has already found the back of the net eight times in 41 appearances this season, added a hat‑trick to his tally, meaning he is already halfway to matching his season‑long goal total despite having played 38 fewer matches. Everton, who have not progressed beyond the third round since the 2023/24 campaign, will now face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the next stage of the competition.
The Toffees displayed dominance from the opening whistle, controlling possession and creating chances at a rapid pace. While Preston, who have dropped two points from two games in the Sky Bet Championship, managed to generate a few opportunities, most of those chances were of low quality and failed to threaten the Everton defence.
The breakthrough arrived on the 10th attempt of the match. A floated pass from Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall found Vitalii Mykolenko on the left flank, who neatly laid the ball off to Barry. The striker took a composed touch and slotted the ball home with a tidy finish, opening the scoring and setting the tone for the rest of the game.
The early goal gave Everton a psychological edge, but the match remained relatively open as both sides continued to probe for further breakthroughs. When the second half commenced, Preston appeared determined to bite back, but the atmosphere in the stadium suggested that the home side were confident of seeing the game out. Barry’s second goal, which came just before the hour mark, effectively dampened any hopes of a comeback.
His finish was simple but clinical, and it pushed Everton further ahead, making a comeback increasingly unlikely. With twenty minutes still to play, Barry completed his hat‑trick, sealing Everton’s passage to the next round. The final goal of the night was added by the newly‑signed Welsh forward Brennan Johnson, who had arrived from Crystal Palace earlier in the month. Johnson’s strike was his first since November 2025, and it capped a comprehensive performance for the Toffees.
In post‑match interviews, Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom expressed his frustration on Sky Sports Football, saying, "It’s just frustrating – we were about to make the substitutions and they scored the second goal as we had them all lined up. It changed the game.
The goals after that were disappointing. We were playing against top opposition, we know that, but a couple of fundamental things didn’t help us keep a clean sheet. It doesn’t matter who you are playing against. Because of where we are at the minute, it’s hard to take the pressure off the defenders as we haven’t got attacking changes.
We have defenders on the bench, a couple more midfielders, wing‑backs and some young boys. That’s where we’re at; we need attacking changes so we can keep the pressure on. And that’s a problem for us at the minute." Everton manager David Moyes, also speaking to Sky Sports, was pleased with the result but remained realistic about the performance: "It ended up being a little bit more comfortable than I thought it might have been before the game, but it’s a really good result for us. I thought we played well at times and our football was quite good, but we need to finish things off a bit better in the first half than we did, but I’m really pleased we scored four goals." Moyes also highlighted the progress of the individual forwards.
Regarding Barry, he said, "I told him at the end of last season he has to do a lot better than he did before. That’s it. We want centre‑forwards to score goals. It’s not easy for anyone coming into the Premier League in their first season, especially centre‑forwards.
He’ll learn a lot more, see a lot more and he’s come in with a much better attitude generally, so whoever’s working with him is doing a good job." Speaking about Johnson, Moyes added, "We want to find what he did at Tottenham when he was scoring all those goals. His assist tonight was brilliant and his finish as well. People who have watched Brennan over the years will tell you that this looks a bit more like him.
We don’t want to bring him on too quickly, but he’s done well tonight." The victory not only secured Everton’s progression but also gave the manager a chance to assess his attacking options ahead of the upcoming league fixtures. Barry’s hat‑trick will boost his confidence and may see him become a regular focal point in the Toffees’ front line, while Johnson’s return to goal-scoring form suggests he could be an important squad player moving forward. Overall, the match was a showcase of Everton’s attacking depth and tactical flexibility. The team’s ability to dominate possession, create high‑quality chances, and finish clinically underlines their potential to make a deeper run in the Carabao Cup.
With a strong performance against a lower‑league side and a forthcoming clash with Wolves, Everton will look to build on this momentum and aim for a longer cup run, while also using the experience to fine‑tune their approach in the Premier League. The win also provided a platform for the coaching staff to evaluate the squad’s defensive solidity, as Preston failed to create any clear-cut opportunities despite a few moments of pressure. Everton’s backline, marshalled by Vitalii Mykolenko and supported by a disciplined midfield, kept a clean sheet, reinforcing the belief that the team can be defensively sound while maintaining an attacking edge.
In summary, Barry’s three‑goal haul, Johnson’s comeback strike, and the overall team performance combined to deliver a convincing 4‑0 victory that propels Everton into the next round of the Carabao Cup, offering both confidence and tactical insights for the challenges ahead.