Everton 1-0 Ipswich Town
It was the kind of afternoon that separates the optimists from the realists. A man light after 23 minutes, Everton dug in, rode their luck, and came away with three points that felt heavier than most. The rearguard action will not make the end-of-season DVD, but it might just make the season.
Barry's header from the corner — harshly ruled out by VAR for a phantom obstruction — was the moment the crowd found its voice. The decision only sharpened the edge. From there, the ten-man Tractor Boys threw everything forward and Everton's back line answered every question.
Player ratings: the ones that mattered
Pickford commanded his box and his area; Branthwaite won everything in the air; and Barry's all-round performance deserved more than the goal VAR took away. The ratings are in, and the debate is already raging in the comments.
Read the full ratings, add your own, and have your say in the matchday thread — the conversation that has run since 1994 continues below every report we publish.