Everton extended their unbeaten start to the Premier League season with a narrow 1-0 win over Ipswich Town at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, in a match dominated by VAR controversy and a second-half red card for the visitors.

Thierno Barry scored his fifth goal of the campaign in the 11th minute, converting from close range after James Tarkowski’s shot deflected off him. He thought he had doubled the lead in the second half when he headed in from a Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall corner, but VAR disallowed the goal, ruling that Brennan Johnson was offside and interfering with goalkeeper Christian Walton.

Ipswich’s task became harder in the 67th minute when Abdul Fatawu was sent off for a second bookable offence, penalised for simulation after going down under a challenge. Referee Stuart Attwell’s decision capped a frustrating afternoon for the visitors, who had already been reduced to 10 men earlier in the season and struggled to create clear chances against a compact Everton side.

David Moyes praised his team’s resilience but admitted the performance was far from fluent. “We didn’t like what we were seeing at times, but we came away with a 1-0 win and it could so easily have been more,” he said. The result moved Everton up to fifth in the table, while Ipswich’s defensive frailties were again exposed on the road.

Team news had been accurate on the injury front: Ipswich were without Jack Taylor (knee) and Azor Matusiwa, while Emersonn remained doubtful after picking up a problem against Crystal Palace. Gary O’Neil’s side started with Kjell Scherpen in goal and a back line including Leif Davis, Jacob Greaves, Issa Diop and Dara O’Shea, but lacked the control to match Everton’s physicality and set-piece threat.