Gareth Barry’s first goal in over 2 1/2 years secured Everton three points in a stirring 2-1 comeback victory at West Brom on Saturday.
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The visitors found themselves behind early on thanks to a Gareth McAuley header, with Kevin Mirallas restoring parity just prior to the interval.
Everton looked a different side after fit-again striker Romelu Lukaku came on as a first-half substitute and Barry capped a memorable afternoon when he nodded in the victor on the hour after Mason Holgate’s touch fell kindly for him.
Fortunately for the visitors, the misses mattered little as, despite withstanding a late glut of West Brom pressure, Everton held firm to secure the spoils.
The Belgian wasn’t directly involved in the equaliser but his compatriot, Mirallas, finished off a rapier-like move involving Leighton Baines, Barry and Ross Barkley, drilling a low shot past the goalkeeper on the stroke of half time.
Barry’s tame side-foot shot was the only save Ben Foster had to make before Lukaku came on at James McCarthy’s expense and the shape of the game visibly changed. Mason Holgate, an impressive performer on the day, volleyed a corner from the right back across goal and the ball sat up perfectly for Barry to head inside the post.
Indeed, Tony Pulis’ team won 0-1 at Goodison Park when these clubs last met back in February and Everton have won just three of their last eight encounters with the Baggies (L2-D3) – a solid record, yes, but hardly one sufficient to justify investing in odds as short as 7/5 on a road win. – Since the start of the 2012-13 season, no defender has scored more Premier League headed goals than Gareth McAuley (8, along with John Terry).
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As such by signing such quality players, Koeman has greatly enhanced Everton’s prospects of enjoying a successful 2016-2017 season, which they have begun in an extremely positive manner by accumulating four points from the opening two English Premier League games.
