Everton's unbeaten run continues with a win against Ipswich

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Unbeaten Everton moved up to fifth in the Premier League as Thierno Barry's goal made the difference against 10-man Ipswich Town.

Barry scored his fifth goal of the season in the 11th minute when he did well to adjust his body to divert James Tarkowski's 35-yard strike into the net.

The French forward could have doubled the hosts' lead later with a diving header, but he failed to hit the target.

Barry did have the ball in the net again, with a header from a corner, but it was disallowed as Brennan Johnson, who had been standing in front of goalkeeper Christian Walton, was ruled offside.

Promoted Ipswich, looking for their third league win of the campaign, had chances to equalise, but Everton's Jordan Pickford did well to save from Emersonn, Abdul Fatawu, Julio Enciso and Abdoul Ouattara.

Emersonn and Leif Davis also missed the target when well placed.

Hopes of an Ipswich fightback faded when Fatawu was sent off for two bookable offences, the second of which was for diving after he went to ground under minimal contact from a James Garner challenge.

Everton are now on nine points, with two wins and three draws from their five league matches, and have also reached the last 16 of the Carabao Cup, in which they will host Newcastle next month.

Picture of young child Noah Woods on the scoreboard, alongside the message 'In loving memory of Noah Woods'Getty Images

Players from both sides wore black armbands in tribute to three-year-old Noah Woods, who tragically died earlier this week. Noah disappeared from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk on Tuesday after being separated from a relative. At least 1,300 people helped to try to find him in the following 24 hours, before a child's body was discovered on Wednesday afternoon at a nearby pond. A minute's applause was also held in tribute in the third minute of the match.

Everton analysis: Moyes' Toffees moving in right direction

Manager David Moyes will be delighted at the start his Everton side have made to the campaign.

The Toffees won none of their final seven games as they finished 13th last season and missed out on the European qualification that at one stage had been within their grasp.

Everton also suffered a tough end to the transfer window, with key attacking midfielder Iliman Ndiaye going to Manchester City in a £65m deal and striker Beto, their top scorer last season, leaving for Fiorentina for £14.6m.

Both of those deals were completed on transfer deadline day, with Moyes unable to bring in a replacement striker, leaving him short of attacking options until January, unless he can find a suitable player to sign out of contract.

Therefore, it has been vital that Barry, their only recognised senior centre-forward, has stepped up this season. He got eight goals in all competitions in 2025-26 and now has five already this term - two in the Premier League and a hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Preston in the Carabao Cup - and was named as player of the match here.

Another boost for Moyes would have been a first league start of the campaign for Jack Grealish, who returned to the club on a second successive season-long loan from Manchester City.

Operating on the left wing, Grealish got a superb reception from fans when he was substituted after 79 minutes.

Another plus for Everton was the clean sheet, their fifth in seven games in all competitions, with Jarrad Branthwaite among those to be excellent after being named in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Spain, the Czech Republic and Croatia.

Really pleased to get the three points - Moyes

Ipswich analysis: O'Neil can be encouraged at team's display

Ipswich scored last-minute goals in their wins over Sunderland and Crystal Palace and their fans would have had hopes of more late drama when seven minutes were added on at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Town had sent on Zian Flemming, who scored their winner against Palace, but the 10 men could not score, with Flemming wasting a good chance in injury time when he fired over the top.

Centre-half Issa Diop almost snatched a point right at the end, only for his effort to be charged down by a combination of Branthwaite and Garner.

But there would still be plenty for boss Gary O'Neil to be encouraged about from his side.

Everton's Pickford, another to be included in Tuchel's England squad, had to make four excellent saves as Ipswich battled well, before the sending-off of Fatawu midway through the second half meant the visitors were forced on to the back foot.

O'Neil, whose father died earlier this week, watched his side determinedly chase an equaliser, but it was a fruitless pursuit.

Nevertheless, going into the three-week international break, O'Neil's team have six points from their first five matches back at the top level, staying out of early trouble.

I thought we were the better team - O'Neil