Thierno Barry repays Everton's faith as Leeds left with regrets after dominant display

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It was only an equaliser but Thierno Barry celebrated with cup final gusto, going through his full repertoire for the crowd and the cameras. Good on him. The young French striker struggled dreadfully in the first three months of his Premier League career but he kept working and Everton kept the faith.

And that faith has been rewarded with four goals in his last five Premier League games, the latest giving David Moyes’ side a point against a Leeds side that had dominated the first half. And boss Daniel Farke was left ruing the fact that his side could have been out of sight by the interval.

Everton’s last win at their relatively new home was back in early December, so, despite significant recent wins on the road, it was easy to understand why the riverside stadium was not exactly rippling with anticipation ahead of kick-off.

And the mild sense of foreboding was justified as Farke’s side dominated early possession and carried the more significant threat. To be fair, that was not too difficult to do, as Everton’s threat level was zero.

The only surprise was that it took Leeds almost half an hour to get themselves ahead, James Justin finishing a move that was a combination of some nice attacking work on the right flank and some seriously ropey defending.

Which, essentially, was the story of a first half that should have seen Leeds take a firmer grip on matters. That they didn’t was down to some over-elaboration in the final third and to the upright denying Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Everton’s shocking performance demanded half-time personnel changes and they duly arrived with both Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jarrad Branthwaite making comebacks from injury, the latter for his first appearance of the season.

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The changes certainly gave Everton an edge they had been painfully lacking and gave the home support a lift that was badly needed.

And David Moyes’ team were given extra encouragement by a palpable change in attitude from Leeds, who went from being on the front foot to the back foot in sharpish fashion.

It was still past the hour mark when Karl Darlow had to make his first save of the contest but Everton had somehow claimed the attacking initiative.

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It was Barry who forced the Darlow save and it was Barry who was first to Idrissa Gueye’s drilled cross to finish with surprising expertise for the leveller.

During the opening 45 minutes, Gueye had looked as though he was suffering from his Afcon exertions and celebrations but he came to life in the later stages and saw a potentially match-winning effort crash against the bar.

It would, though, have been an undeserving winner. Leeds were good value for their point - and Farke will probably believe he should have had more.

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