After the trials and tribulations of the transfer window, Everton can be content with fifth place, an unbeaten start and five clean sheets in seven games. There will also be relief, for Pro Ref as well as David Moyes, that another controversial call from a video assistant referee did not impede their progress against Ipswich.
Thierno Barry decided a close-fought contest with his fifth goal of the campaign. He should have had a sixth but an offside Brennan Johnson was adjudged to have impacted Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton’s ability to save a ball he made no attempt to save and was nowhere near saving. Unlike last weekend’s Manchester derby, however, referee Stuart Attwell’s decision would not prove decisive. The game turned in Everton’s favour minutes later when Abdul Fatawu received a second yellow card for diving but, having failed to kill off Gary O’Neil’s 10 men, they ended up hanging on. VAR was therefore spared Moyes’s wrath.
“They said it affected his ability to save it which I don’t think was the case,” said the Everton manager, far more relaxed than he would have been had Ipswich levelled late on. “It’s really difficult for referees, we understand that. Do I think we will get consistency from that decision through all the season on the same thing? I’ll be doubtful of that. There is no doubt Brennan was offside but did he really interfere, was the goalkeeper ever going to save it?”
O’Neil took a differing view, and also claimed his visitors controlled the game. That was stretching it. Everton were extremely careless in possession with the usually reliable Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jarrad Branthwaite, James Garner and Harrison Armstrong among those responsible. But they created enough chances to have rendered Ipswich’s stirring finale irrelevant, 21 in total, though managed only two on target. “I am ratting the players like you wouldn’t believe,” added Moyes. “Why are we not scoring more? I think that’s one of the things we are missing from being a half-decent side.”
Johnson missed a gilt-edged chance from an Armstrong pass before Barry delivered an early lead with his strangest goal of the season. The striker reacted sharply to divert James Tarkowski’s 25-yard volley into the net after Walton and the lively Jack Clarke had cleared a cross from Dewsbury-Hall. The Ipswich keeper had Tarkowski’s shot covered only for Barry to leave him wrong-footed by chesting the ball into the opposite side of the goal. The striker clearly moved to play the ball with his chest, so gets the benefit of the doubt over his intention.
Fatawu was a persistent threat down Ipswich’s right flank, making his dismissal all the more galling for O’Neil as his team chased an equaliser. The Ghana international forced a fine save from Jordan Pickford after Everton made a hash of clearing his corner and attempted to beat the England goalkeeper from inside his own half. The long-range effort was drifting wide but Pickford, unawares, took no chances and scampered back to save. Fatawu should also have claimed an assist when floating a cross over the Everton defence to Leif Davis. The left-back, perhaps surprised to find himself onside and unmarked in front of goal, scuffed his shot badly wide of the far post.
Ipswich started the second half on top with Pickford saving from Julio Enciso and Abdoul Ouattara in quick succession. But it was Everton who converted next when Barry rose between four static Ipswich players and headed Dewsbury-Hall’s corner in off the far post. Walton was nowhere near the ball and did not appeal any infringement by the offside Johnson. Referee Attwell, sent to the pitch-side monitor, infuriated the home crowd by disallowing the goal on the basis Johnson was offside and affecting the keeper’s ability to save the ball.
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Fatawu foolishly helped Everton recover. Booked for hauling down Dewsbury-Hall in the first half, the winger invited a second yellow card when diving to win a free-kick against Garner. He became only the third player in the last six Premier League seasons to receive a second yellow card for simulation.
Everton had numerous chances against Ipswich’s ten men but Johnson, Dewsbury-Hall and Armstrong all miscued while Walton produced a fine save to deny impressive substitute Tyler Dibling. Their profligacy made for a nervy finale as the visitors piled forward in search of an equaliser. Branthwaite, launching himself in the way of Diop’s goal-bound shot, helped Everton over the line.
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