Thierno Barry proved the decisive factor as Everton cruised into the third round of the Carabao Cup with a commanding 4-0 victory over Preston North End at Deepdale. The French forward not only netted a hat‑trick but also supplied the assist for his third goal, showcasing a clinical edge that has already seen him tally eight strikes in just 41 appearances for the 2025/26 season.
Remarkably, after finding the net in Everton's Premier League triumph over Crystal Palace earlier in the week, Barry is now halfway to matching his season total despite having played 38 fewer matches than his overall tally suggests. Everton, who have not progressed beyond the third round of the competition since the 2023/24 campaign, will now face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the next stage.
The Toffees displayed dominance from the opening whistle, dictating possession and creating a flurry of chances against a Preston side that has already dropped two points from two games in the Sky Bet Championship. While many of those early opportunities were of a low‑quality nature, the overall tempo favored the home side. The breakthrough came on the tenth attempt when Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall floated a pass into the left‑hand side, finding Vitalii Mykolenko. The defender calmly laid the ball off to Barry, who slipped it past the goalkeeper with a tidy finish.
That goal seemed to open the floodgates, but the match remained relatively tight for a while, with Preston showing resilience and the crowd sensing a possible shift in momentum as the second half approached. Barry's second strike arrived just before the hour‑mark, effectively dampening any hopes of a Preston comeback. His third and final goal, a simple yet decisive finish, sealed Everton's progression with roughly 20 minutes still to play. The French striker's composure in front of goal was evident, and his contribution was complemented by a late addition from the newly signed Welsh forward Brennan Johnson.
Johnson, who moved from Crystal Palace earlier in the month, celebrated his first goal since November 2025, adding a fourth to the tally and further cementing the comprehensive nature of the win. Post‑match, Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom expressed his frustration on Sky Sports Football, noting how a substitution plan was disrupted by Everton's second goal: "It's just frustrating we were going to make the subs and they scored the second goal as we had them all lined up. It just changed the game. The goals after that were disappointing." He added that despite facing a superior opponent, defensive lapses and a lack of attacking options made it difficult for his side to keep a clean sheet.
Heckingbottom highlighted the limited depth in his squad, mentioning that most of his bench comprised defenders, a few midfielders, wing‑backs and younger players, leaving the team without the necessary offensive thrust to relieve pressure on the back line. Everton manager David Moyes was more upbeat about his team's performance.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he described the match as "a little bit more comfortable than I thought it might have been before the game," praising the quality of the football and the four‑goal haul. Moyes did, however, acknowledge room for improvement in the first half, emphasizing the need for sharper finishing. He also spoke highly of Barry's development, recalling a conversation at the end of the previous season: "I told him he has to do a lot better than he did before.
That's it. We want centre‑forwards to score goals. I don't think it's easy for anybody coming to the Premier League in their first season, especially centre‑forwards. He'll learn a lot more, he'll 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." Regarding Johnson, Moyes said: "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've watched Brennan over the years will tell you that looks a bit more like him.
We don't want to bring him on too quick, but he's done well tonight." The manager's comments underline Everton's intent to integrate Johnson gradually while extracting the best from his proven goal‑scoring instincts. The win not only propels Everton further in the Carabao Cup but also provides a morale boost ahead of their upcoming league fixtures.
Barry's rapid accumulation of goals suggests he could become one of the Premier League's most prolific newcomers, while Johnson's resurgence hints at a potential resurgence for the Welsh international. For Preston, the defeat serves as a stark reminder of the challenges they face in the Championship, particularly the need for more creative attacking options and defensive solidity.
Looking ahead, Everton will travel to Molineux to take on Wolves, a tie that promises to test the Toffees' defensive organization and attacking depth. If Barry continues his scoring spree and Johnson adds further contributions, Everton could well be positioning themselves as serious contenders for the cup, while also building momentum for their Premier League campaign. In summary, Thierno Barry's hat‑trick and overall performance were the cornerstone of Everton's 4-0 demolition of Preston, complemented by Brennan Johnson's timely goal.
Both managers reflected on the match, with Heckingbottom lamenting missed opportunities and Moyes highlighting the positives and areas for growth. The result sets up an intriguing next round against Wolves and adds a fresh chapter to Everton's cup ambitions.