Our perfect plan pays dividends, insists Merlin

MERLIN ROHL says Everton deployed "the perfect plan" to beat Aston Villa and end Unai Emery’s side's 11-game winning run on home turf as he believes Thierno Barry’s face displays the steely look of a marksman.

- By CHRIS BEESLEY

After taking 17 matches to break his scoring duck for the Blues following his £27m transfer from Villarreal, Barry's sublime 59th-minute match-winner at Villa Park was his fourth goal of the season and his third from his last four starts.

And midfielder Rohl, who produced his best performance for Everton following his own summer switch, said: "Of course it will be good for Thierno's confidence.

"I'm always happy for every player when he scores. You can see when you look in Thierno's eyes, he wants to score.

"He gives everything for the club, so I'm pretty happy that he scored today. It was a very nice finish.

"Also, for him, he put in very hard work against the ball, that's also very important.