Aston Villa 0-1 Everton Player Ratings: Thierno Barry Snatches a Crucial Victory for the Toffees

Everton executed a disciplined and clinical away performance to edge past Aston Villa with a narrow 1–0 victory at Villa Park. While the hosts controlled possession and spent long spells in the attacking half, it was Everton who left with all three points.

Aston Villa dictated much of the tempo, moving the ball patiently and searching for openings, but clear-cut chances were hard to come by. Frustration grew as shots mounted without a breakthrough, with the final touch often letting them down in decisive moments.

The turning point arrived in the 59th minute. Thierno Barry reacted quickest inside the box to bundle home a scrappy but crucial finish, giving Everton the lead against the run of play. From that moment, the visitors shifted fully into defensive mode.

Everton’s resilience was central to the result. One of the best Premier League goalkeepers, Jordan Pickford, produced a series of vital saves to preserve the clean sheet, while the backline stood firm under sustained pressure. Villa continued to push but were unable to find a way through. Here are Sportsdunua’s Aston Villa vs Everton Player Ratings from the encounter.

Key Takeaways

• Aston Villa dominated possession but struggled to convert pressure into clear chances.

• Thierno Barry’s second-half goal gave Everton the lead against the run of play.

• Pickford’s key saves and a disciplined backline secured a narrow 1–0 away win.

Aston Villa Player Ratings vs Everton

Let's take a quick look at the Aston Villa Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Emiliano Martínez - 5.0: A day to forget for the Villa keeper. He made a couple of saves, sure. But his error led to the corner from which Everton eventually scored, and he looked shaky. The goal itself was a mess defensively, and he was caught out. It wasn't his finest hour by any stretch.

Defenders

Matty Cash - 6.5: A busy afternoon for Cash. He tried to get forward and put in a few decent crosses. Defensively, he was mostly solid, winning a good number of his duels. However, he was part of a backline that ultimately couldn't keep a clean sheet and looked vulnerable at times.

Ezri Konsa - 7.0: Probably Villa's best defender on the day. Konsa was strong in the challenge and read the game well. He won almost all his duels and made important clearances. It's hard to fault him for the loss; he did his job effectively for the most part.

Pau Torres - 4.5: This was a shocker from our perspective. An error leading directly to a goal is unforgivable at this level. He looked uncomfortable all game, lost possession cheaply, and struggled against Everton's directness. A really poor performance that cost his team dearly.

Ian Maatsen - 6.0: He showed flashes of what he can do going forward, creating three chances. However, he was often caught out of position defensively. He was eventually substituted, and you felt Villa needed more from that flank. An okay performance, but not great.

Midfielders

John McGinn - 6.0: His game was cut short by injury after just 18 minutes. It was a real shame as Villa lost their captain and driving force. In his short time on the pitch, he looked energetic but didn't have enough time to make a real impact. It's tough to give a proper rating.

Youri Tielemans - 7.5: The bright spark in a dull Villa performance. He was the one trying to make things happen, creating four chances for his teammates. His passing was crisp and incisive. If his forwards had their shooting boots on, he'd have had a couple of assists. One of the few who can hold his head high.

Emiliano Buendía - 6.0: A frustrating display from Buendía. He created a couple of chances and drew fouls, but his final ball was lacking. He also lost possession too many times for our liking. We expected him to be the one to unlock the Everton defence, but it just didn't happen for him.

Lamare Bogarde - 5.5: A difficult game for the young midfielder. He worked hard but was often overwhelmed by Everton's midfield. Picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge and was eventually substituted. He looked a bit off the pace, to be honest.

Morgan Rogers - 5.0: What can you say? He had six shots but couldn't find the net. He got into good positions but his finishing was wayward. Lost the ball an incredible 19 times. For all his effort, he lacked the quality needed to make a difference and that really hurt his team.

Forwards

Ollie Watkins - 5.0: He was a ghost. We barely noticed him on the pitch. Just 23 touches tells the whole story. He was completely nullified by Everton's centre-backs. He's usually so influential, but today he offered next to nothing. A very quiet and disappointing outing.

Manager

U. Emery Etxegoien - 5.0: His team had all the ball but no ideas. The tactics seemed one-dimensional, just hoping for a moment of individual brilliance. He couldn't find a way to break down a well-organized Everton side, and the substitutions made little impact. A frustrating day at the office for the Villa boss.

Everton Player Ratings vs Aston Villa

Here are the Everton Player Ratings vs Aston Villa.

Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford - 8.0: Man of the Match, without a doubt. He was absolutely superb. Made four saves, including a couple of top-class stops to keep his team in the lead. He commanded his box with authority and his distribution was solid. A captain's performance that secured the three points. We noticed his confidence was sky-high.

Defenders

Nathan Patterson - 7.0: A really solid and mature performance from the fullback. He was strong in the tackle and won most of his duels. He kept Villa's attackers quiet down his flank. Didn't offer a huge amount going forward but he didn't need to. His defensive work was more than enough.

James Tarkowski - 8.0: An absolute rock at the back. He was a leader for the Toffees, organising the defence and throwing himself in front of everything. He won his aerial battles and made crucial clearances. He perfectly marshaled the backline against a frustrated Villa attack. A classic Tarkowski performance.

Jake O'Brien - 8.0: What a performance alongside Tarkowski. He seemed to be in the right place at the right time, constantly. Six clearances and two interceptions show how well he read the game. He was calm under pressure and didn't put a foot wrong. A fantastic display.

Vitaliy Mykolenko - 7.0: Another strong link in Everton's defensive chain. He was solid in his defensive duties and even got forward to test the keeper himself. He managed his side of the pitch well, offering no space for Villa's wingers. A disciplined and effective performance.

Midfielders

Dwight McNeil - 6.5: A typical hard-working display from McNeil. He tracked back diligently and helped his fullback. His passing was mostly accurate, though he did pick up a booking. He didn't create much, but his defensive contribution was vital to the team's clean sheet.

Jack Grealish - 6.5: He was a nuisance all game, drawing four fouls and breaking up play. His primary role felt more destructive than creative today. He put in a real shift for the team, but we'd have liked to see a bit more quality from him on the ball. Still, an effective part of the game plan.

Merlin Röhl - 7.0: He was a livewire for Everton. Unlucky to hit the post early on, and he created two good chances. He was a bit erratic and lost the ball a fair bit, but his energy and directness caused Villa problems. It was a chaotic but impactful performance.

James Garner - 8.5: The engine room of this Everton team. He was everywhere. His 11 ball recoveries and four tackles were immense in breaking up Villa's rhythm. He kept the ball well and played it simply. A fantastic, disciplined midfield performance that was crucial to the win.

Harrison Armstrong - 6.0: A quieter game for him compared to his midfield partners. He did his job without much fuss but didn't stand out. He was positionally sound and contributed to the team's solid structure. A functional, if unspectacular, outing.

Forwards

Thierno Barry - 8.0: The match-winner. He was in the right place at the right time for his goal. Beyond the goal, his hold-up play was excellent, winning a lot of aerial duels and giving his defence a breather. He was a constant handful for the Villa backline. A brilliant, decisive contribution.

Manager

D. Moyes - 8.5: A tactical masterclass. He set his team up perfectly to frustrate Aston Villa. The defensive organization was flawless, and they were clinical when their one big chance arrived. He knew exactly how to win this game and his players executed the plan to perfection. A great day for the gaffer.

Player of the Match

James Garner was Sportsdunia's man of the match in the Aston Villa vs Everton game.

Worst Performer

Pau Torres was the worst performer in the Aston Villa vs Everton EPL match.