MusaEverton’s impressive 3-1 comeback victory over Coventry City at Hill Dickinson Stadium has been overshadowed by a major refereeing controversy involving Thierno Barry’s second goal.
After a relatively uneventful first half, the contest came alive following the restart, with Coventry initially taking control through Yann Gboho. However, the visitors were also left frustrated after two separate penalty appeals failed to go their way.
The first major talking point arrived before the interval when Everton defender James Tarkowski appeared to pull Caleb Yirenkyi’s hair inside the penalty area. Coventry players immediately appealed for a spot-kick, but referee Stuart Attwell allowed play to continue.
The controversy continued in the second half when Coventry believed they deserved another penalty following a challenge involving Vitalii Mykolenko. VAR reviewed the incident but determined that the contact had occurred outside the penalty area.
Everton subsequently took control of the contest, with Barry scoring twice in quick succession in the 56th and 61st minutes to turn the game around.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall then completed the scoring in the 81st minute, securing another valuable three points for David Moyes’ side.
However, despite the convincing scoreline, attention quickly shifted towards Barry’s second goal, with questions being raised about whether the French striker had used his hand to guide the ball into the net.
Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie was among those who believed the goal should have been disallowed, but a subsequent clarification from the Premier League Match Centre provided further details about the VAR decision.
Premier League Releases VAR Explanation Over Thierno Barry’s Controversial Goal
Barry’s second goal was certainly untidy, with the Everton forward battling to get the ball over the line during a crowded moment inside Coventry’s penalty area.
Initial television replays appeared to suggest that the ball made contact with his hand before eventually crossing the goal line, immediately prompting protests from Coventry players and supporters.
However, following a VAR review, the goal was allowed to stand.
Although the initial footage generated considerable debate, another camera angle subsequently emerged, appearing to show that the ball had not made contact with Barry’s hand.
On-field referee Stuart Attwell did not identify a handball offence during the incident, while VAR official Timothy Wood concluded that there was insufficient evidence to overturn the original decision.
The Premier League Match Centre subsequently shared the VAR communication on its official X account.
The audio revealed Wood explaining:
“Okay, that’s his side that’s definitely not hand. Confirming the on-field decision of goal, check complete.”
The explanation confirmed that VAR had examined the incident and found no punishable handball offence, meaning Everton’s second goal was allowed to stand.
There was also some frustration surrounding the television coverage, as Sky Sports did not immediately show every available camera angle following the incident.
This contributed to the confusion among supporters, many of whom initially believed Barry had deliberately or accidentally handled the ball before scoring.
Nevertheless, the additional footage provided a different perspective, with no conclusive evidence emerging to establish that the striker had committed a handball offence.
Thierno Barry Is Quickly Becoming Everton’s New Cult Hero
Away from the refereeing controversy, Barry’s latest performance has further strengthened his growing popularity among Everton supporters.
The French striker is beginning to establish himself as an important figure at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with his recent goalscoring performances attracting comparisons with some of the club’s most memorable cult heroes.
Names such as Tony Hibbert, Duncan Ferguson and Tim Cahill immediately come to mind when discussing players who earned a special place in the hearts of Everton supporters.
Barry could be following a similar path if he maintains his current level of performance.
There were understandable concerns about Everton’s attacking options heading into the campaign, particularly after the striker struggled to make the expected impact during his difficult debut season at the club.
With Moyes seemingly relying heavily on the former Villarreal forward as his main centre-forward option, many supporters questioned whether he could consistently deliver the goals required to help Everton compete.
However, the 23-year-old has responded impressively to those doubts.
He has now registered 10 goals across all competitions, alongside three assists, with four of those goals arriving in his last three appearances.
His recent contributions have been particularly important, helping Everton secure three victories in just eight days while strengthening their position in the Premier League table.
Without Barry’s recent goalscoring form, it is difficult to imagine Everton enjoying their current position in fifth place or progressing into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
For Moyes, having a striker who can deliver decisive moments in crucial matches could prove invaluable as the season progresses.
And if Everton eventually secure European qualification or end their trophy drought this season, Barry could become one of the players supporters will look back on with particular appreciation.
His ability to produce goals when the team needs them most, combined with his energetic celebrations and growing connection with the supporters, is giving him all the ingredients to become Hill Dickinson Stadium’s first major cult hero.
Musa
