James Garner reacts as Thierno Barry brutally mocks Nottingham Forest after Everton win
Everton striker Thierno Barry has trolled Nottingham Forest in the wake of his second goal in as many games against them on Tuesday night.
Barry looks to be coming into his own at Everton now after initially struggling to make an impact at following his £27million move from Villarreal in the summer window.
David Moyes backed Barry to find his feet after a tough start on Merseyside, and his persistence has paid off with some strong performances in recent weeks.
The 23-year-old netted his first goal for the club in a 3-0 win over Forest on 6 December, after leading the line well from the off in wins away at Man United and Bournemouth.
He scored his second goal for the club against Sean Dyche’s side on Tuesday night, and has reacted to the strike on social media with a joke at Forest’s expense.
Barry issues ‘I love’ message after another goal against Forest
Everton went in front early on as former Forest man Garner found the net from a tight angle after getting on the end of Dwight McNeil’s fine threaded pass.
They held on despite constant pressure from the hosts, and Barry doubled the Toffees’ lead with 10 minutes left as Garner found him one-on-one with the goalkeeper and he finished with aplomb.
The Frenchman certainly seems to be getting used to life as a Premier League striker, with Moyes demanding more output from both him and Beto as they chase European qualification.
He took to Instagram following the game to mock Forest and his recent goal record against them, with a post of his celebrations alongside a caption saying: “I love playing against them.”
Teammate Garner, who set him up very well to score, replied with an arrow emoji to show his support.
Who could Everton sign as competition for Barry in January?
Everton are looking to bolster their forward line in the January transfer window, with Beto potentially set to leave the club after a tough last few months in front of goal.
Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen has been linked to Everton in recent weeks, but a move looks unlikely as West Ham prepare to offer big money for his services and a consistent starting spot.
Football Insider’s sources have recently revealed that Everton could sign Evan Ferguson on loan as the Friedkin Group, who own both clubs, aim to strike such a deal with Brighton next month.
Roma striker Artem Dovbyk has also been linked to the Toffees, and it is clear that, despite Barry’s improved form, they need a new forward in the new year to boost them up the table before May.