Everton player ratings from Hill Dickinson Stadium after a 1-1 draw with Leeds United
Thierno Barry scored Everton’s equaliser(Image: Getty Images)
Everton’s winless streak at Hill Dickinson Stadium extended to five matches but Thierno Barry salvaged a point against Leeds United with his fourth goal in his last five starts.
Despite a bright start from the Blues, the Yorkshire side ended up dominating the first half and went ahead with a back post finish from James Justin on 28 minutes from Anton Stach’s pass. Home manager David Moyes responded by making a double substitution at half-time, bringing on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jarrad Branthwaite, for his first appearance of the season, for Dwight McNeil and Harrison Armstrong.
Everton improved after the break and earned a share of the spoils when Barry hammered the ball into the roof of the net on 76 minutes from Idrissa Gueye’s low right wing cross.
Jordan Pickford 6
Made an early save to deny Dominic Calvert-Lewin from close range, there was little he could do about the goal and looked frustrated that his defence had been cut open so easily.
Nathan Patterson 6
Had a decent evening before making way and produced some important interceptions but couldn’t get close enough to prevent James Justin netting his first Leeds goal.
Vitalii Mykolenko 5
All at sea in the first half as Leeds surged forward, his best work was off the ball, making a crucial block to deny James Justin although his distribution remained poor all night.
James Tarkowski 6
Up against Dominic Calvert-Lewin, his former team-mate beat him to the ball to lay the ball across the area for Leeds’ goal but tightened up in the second half.
Jake O’Brien 6
Had his hands full against Calvert-Lewin who gave him not just a physical battle but one of wits, he moved out to right-back towards the end.
Idrissa Gueye 8
Back from AFCON glory with Senegal and having teed up the winner against Morocco in Rabat he provided another big assist, getting to the byline and delivering a low cross to Barry, before then rattling the crossbar with a shot of his own a couple of minutes later.
James Garner 6
Fired a low left foot shot wide just before the interval and was a danger with his balls swung in from wide but didn’t have the same kind of influence he’d enjoyed in recent weeks.
Dwight McNeil 5
Continuing as an inverted winger on the right, he worked hard for the cause but because he can’t use his right foot, he was often having to make large turning circles to angle a pass on his left and was taken off at half-time.
Harrison Armstrong 6
A few clever touches from the youngster again but after his imperious display at Villa Park, this was a tougher assignment and he was sacrificed at the interval as David Moyes shuffled his pack.
Iliman Ndiaye 7
With Jack Grealish injured, he was on the left wing where he played for most of last season and while he looks sharp on the ball, he needed more cutting edge and saw a left-foot shot blocked by Sebastiaan Barnauw.
Thierno Barry 7
Superb first-time finish into the roof of the net to equalise having earlier been denied by a smart save by Karl Darlow with an outside of the foot shot after hearts were in mouths when he pulled up from an early challenge and looked hurt but he got back up to battle on.
Substitutes
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (on 46 for McNeil) 7
Back from injury at the start of the second half and kept the ball moving with an industrious display.
Jarrad Branthwaite (on 46 for Armstrong) 7
On at the start of the second half for his first appearance of the season, he gave Everton a new dimension as someone who was able to carry the ball forwards out of defence.
Tyler Dibling (on 71 for Patterson) 6
A big chance for him to take the game to Leeds in the latter stages, he was full of flicks and tricks, but he didn’t always seem to know what he was going to do next either and probably should have shot instead of crossing when the ball fell to him in the area late on.
Beto (on 89 for Barry)
Late cameo.