Thierno Barry proved to be the decisive factor as Everton cruised into the third round of the Carabao Cup, overwhelming Preston North End with a commanding 4‑0 victory at Deepdale. The French forward not only found the back of the net three times but also supplied the assist for his fourth goal, showcasing a blend of clinical finishing and creative playmaking that left the home side scrambling. Barry’s season tally has already become a talking point. In the 2025/26 campaign he has recorded eight goals across 41 appearances, a respectable return for a player still finding his footing in the Premier League.
Remarkably, after scoring his opening league goal in Saturday’s win over Crystal Palace, he is now halfway to matching that seasonal total despite having featured in 38 fewer matches than his club teammates. This rapid accumulation of goals underscores his growing importance to Everton’s attacking setup.
Everton’s cup run has been modest in recent years; the Toffees have not progressed beyond the third round since the 2023/24 season. Their next challenge will be a clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, a fixture that promises to test the squad’s depth and resolve as they aim to extend their cup adventure. From the first whistle, Everton displayed a level of dominance that left little doubt about their intentions.
The team’s possession statistics were heavily in their favour, and they generated a steady stream of chances. Preston, who have suffered two defeats in as many Championship games, struggled to create quality opportunities of their own, often resorting to low‑intensity shots that failed to trouble the Everton defence. The breakthrough finally arrived on the 10th attempt. A floated pass from Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall found left‑back Vitalii Mykolenko, who neatly laid the ball off to Barry.
The striker timed his run perfectly and slipped the ball into the net with a composed finish, giving Everton a 1‑0 lead and setting the tone for the remainder of the match. Following the opening goal, there was a palpable sense that the floodgates might open, but Everton’s disciplined defending kept Preston at bay, preventing any immediate retaliation. As the second half commenced, the home supporters sensed that their team’s momentum was shifting decisively in Everton’s favour. Barry struck again just before the hour‑mark, doubling the lead and further dimming any hopes of a Preston comeback.
His second strike was a simple yet effective finish that underscored his poise inside the box. The third goal, which completed his hat‑trick, arrived with about twenty minutes remaining and effectively sealed Everton’s progression to the next round. The Welsh forward Brennan Johnson, who had recently transferred from Crystal Palace, added a fourth goal to the tally. It was his first strike since November 2025, and it capped off a comprehensive performance for the visitors.
Johnson’s goal not only highlighted his growing confidence but also provided a glimpse of the attacking options available to manager David Moyes. Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom expressed his frustration in a post‑match interview on Sky Sports Football.
He lamented the timing of Everton’s second goal, noting that it came just as his substitutes were about to enter the field. "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," he said. Heckingbottom also acknowledged the difficulty of keeping a clean sheet against a higher‑ranked opponent and pointed to a lack of attacking depth on his bench as a contributing factor to the defeat.
Everton boss David Moyes offered a measured assessment of the performance. He described the match as more comfortable than anticipated and praised his side’s attacking output. "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 commented.
When speaking about Barry, Moyes highlighted the striker’s development over the past season. "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 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," Moyes explained. Regarding Johnson, Moyes noted the need to rediscover the form the player displayed during his spell at Tottenham, where he was a prolific scorer.
"His assist tonight was brilliant and his finish as well. People who have watched Brennan over the years will tell you that looks a bit more like him. We don’t want to bring him on too quickly, but he’s done well tonight," the manager added.
The comprehensive victory not only advances Everton in the Carabao Cup but also provides a morale boost ahead of upcoming league fixtures. With a potent attacking trio now showing signs of synergy, the Toffees will look to build on this momentum as they prepare for a potentially challenging tie against Wolves. The win also serves as a reminder of the importance of squad rotation and depth, themes that both managers touched upon in their post‑match analyses.
The next round promises to be a stern test of Everton’s aspirations for a deeper cup run, while Preston will need to regroup quickly to halt their early‑season slide in the Championship.