Aston Villa 0-1 Everton result - Thierno Barry secures hard-fought win for David Moyes' Toffees as Villa suffer blow to title hopes at Villa Park

Thierno Barry struck the winner as Everton claimed a 1-0 victory at Villa Park to dent Aston Villa’s title hopes.

David Moyes’s visitors hit the post after just 11 seconds and saw a Jake O’Brien header controversially chalked off late in the first half.

Villa’s best moment prior to the break came when substitute Evann Guessand saw a looping header flash back off the crossbar.

Unai Emery’s men tried to up the ante following the restart, but it was The Toffees who stole in front just shy of the hour when Barry took advantage of poor errors from both Pau Torres and Emiliano Martinez to dink home a delicious rebound.

Morgan Rogers had multiple openings to mark his 100th appearance for The Villans with a goal, but he struggled to find the target before being thwarted by an outstanding save from Jordan Pickford.

The result means Villa remain third, behind second-placed Manchester City on goal difference and seven points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Everton rise to 10th and are just four points shy of Liverpool in fourth.

Next up, Villa visit Fenerbahce in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday before travelling to Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday. Everton host Leeds United a week on Monday.

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"When the chance came it was a fantastic finish from Thierno Barry," he said on Sky Sports. "I think Emi Martinez, the goalkeeper, has got to have a look at himself and do better on the (initial) shot, but Everton played this game out fantastically well and they got the three points."

Ex-Villa striker Chris Sutton was full of praise for PTOM James Garner on Sky Sports comms: "James Garner had been absolutely fantastic in that Everton midfield. He’s broken the play up and kept the ball moving well… Covered every blade of grass on the pitch and with (England boss) Thomas Tuchel watching (too).

"It's not the first time this season his level of performance has been really high."

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp added that Villa blew the chance ot put some pressure on Arsenal and that it was Everton's 'best result of the season.'

Aston Villa 0-1 Everton.

Buendia floats an audacious header from the edge of the box wide of Pickford's right-hand post after a lovely delivery from Tielemans.

And that is that for Villa's hopes!

Everton will not lose this match from here.

The Toffees are edging ever closer to another win on the road!

Four minutes added.

Emery's men are going to have to produce seriously late drama to make it 12 home wins in a row in all competitions now...

Everton are closing-in on a fourth away win in their last six PL matches and could keep a clean sheet for the fifth time in those six outings.

Barry off, Beto on.

The left back keeps the ball alive from a deep right-wing cross with a cute header to himself and an overhead kick from a tight angle that lacks the power to trouble Pickford.

Buendia gallops into space in a central area but his 25-yard strike is once again brilliantly blocked by the visitors.

Villa are piling on the pressure and the visiting rearguard is creaking, but it is well-drilled and standing tall at present.

Lucas Digne and George Hemmings on.

Maatsen and Bogarde off.

Rogers manages to adjust his body to produce a sublime curler towards the top corner that Pickford somehow claws to safety.

Rogers reacts well but his instinctive strike from close-in is well blocked inside the six-yard box.

Villa recycle the attack down the left and Rogers pulls back to just beyond the penalty spot, but sweeps a first-time shot from the pull back over the bar.

Barry has now notched three goals in his last four outings after managing just one in his first PL outings for Everton.

A dangerous attack involving Tielemans and Cash ends with Rogers thrashing a rising 15-yard shot well over the bar.

Villa will stay third, level on points with second-placed Man City and seven adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Everton will rise to 10th and just four points off fourth-placed Liverpool.