Everton rally pleases Barry, Dynamo take heart

The old cliché that goals change games was never more apt than at Goodison Park last night where Everton FC shook off a slow start to keep their UEFA Europa League hopes alive.

Romelu Lukaku played a decisive role once again, hitting the winner from the penalty spot, but according to midfielder Gareth Barry, the key to the turnaround was Steven Naismith's equaliser six minutes before half-time.

This lifted not just Roberto Martínez's team but also transformed the mood among the Goodison Park crowd who had booed the home side during a disappointing opening. Everton's domestic malaise this season seemed to be affecting them in Europe for the first time as some sloppy defending contributed to Oleh Gusev's 14th-minute opening goal and they looked ponderous in possession.

Serhiy Rebrov watches Dynamo at Goodison Park©Getty Images

Reflecting on the turning point of Naismith's strike, Barry told UEFA.com: "It settled everyone down including the crowd because at the end of the day the crowd can play a big part in the performance. It settled the team down, it settled the crowd down and from there we grew in confidence and we're slightly disappointed to only score two.

"There were a few anxious moments and the players can feel the heat but the fans are letting us know their frustration and we responded. We dominated the whole of the second half."

Barry had particular praise for Lukaku, who set up Naismith's goal before converting the late spot-kick – his seventh UEFA Europa League goal of the campaign. "He was a big part in both goals – his strength really caused them a lot of problems down the sides. He was holding off two or three players at times and when Rom is in that sort of mood he is difficult to stop."

Barry believes Everton will "probably" need to score in next Thursday’s second leg in Kyiv to advance. "It is an advantage but only a slim one; we feel we might have to go over there and score a goal," he said, adding that their unbeaten record on the road in the competition augured well. "It is strange because some performances are set up for us to play better football away from home; there is a bit more space and the counterattacking can suit us sometimes so we are confident we can go over there and go through."

Dynamo coach Serhiy Rebrov felt his team did not respond when Everton upped the tempo, while forward Dieumerci Mbokani said the visiting team "sat back too deep" in the second half. Yet Mbokani believes that home advantage will be telling in Kyiv, where Dynamo have won all four games this term by a two-goal margin. "It's a good result because we've got the second leg at home in front of our fans," he said.

His team-mate Miguel Veloso told UEFA.com the tie was now "50-50" after last night’s game of two halves: "In the first half we controlled the game better but after half-time Everton had more of it and we sat back and they took advantage. Everton have a good team and some excellent players [but] it will be a different game in Kyiv. I think it's 50-50 now. We want to get through and we have to do what we did in the first half here – try to control the play and create chances."

Dynamo celebrate Oleh Gusev's opener©Getty Images