Burnley 0 Everton 2
Sean Dyche returned to his old stomping ground as he took his in-form Everton to face Burnley at Turf Moor. The Toffees had won three games on the bounce and were starting to climb up the table after their ten-point deduction from the league.
It’s amazing what a couple of wins can do to the confidence of teams. The visitors started well and as Harrison whipped a ball into the back post, McNeil had a completely free header. As he looked for the far corner, his effort went agonisingly close to opening the scoring.
Everton just seemed quicker, all over the pitch, at this stage. Harrison scooped the ball between two Burnley players, setting Patterson down the wing unopposed. His cross picked out Calvert-Lewin and as he headed into the bottom corner, Trafford got down well to tip it around the post.
McNeil swung in the resulting corner and the keeper was beaten to the ball by Onana who head in to give the visitors the lead. The young keeper has been brilliant for The Clarets this season but he had definitely been at fault for that one.
Credit: @Everton
Michael Keane then found himself in the Burnley box, striking an effort at goal. Trafford saved but the ball rebounded off O’Shea straight back to the Everton player, who slotted home at the second time of asking to double The Toffees’ lead.
The Burnley fans were getting a bad case of déjà vu as they could sense yet another home game was getting away from them. This was a huge game for Vincent Kompany’s side, facing one of the teams just sitting outside of the bottom three.
The old guard were coming back to haunt Burnley as Dyche stood on the touchline masterminding things, while Dwight McNeil and Michael Keane were causing all sorts of problems. It was not so long ago that Turf Moor would have been bouncing at all three of these men excelling in the Premier League.
Kompany’s side created their first chance of the game in the dying moments of the first half. Vitinho was played in down the right, scuffing a cross towards Amdouni at the back post. When it seemed like the Burnley player would slot home, Godfrey came from nowhere to clear it wide for a corner.
The hosts tried to find a way back into the game as the second half started but as Amdouni went down in the box, their appeals were in vain as the referee had no interest in awarding The Clarets a spot kick. The replay showed that the official had got it right on this occasion.
As the visitors swung another dangerous corner in towards the Burnley keeper, he flapped at it and Keane tried to divert it towards goal. His effort came back off the post as Vitinho then struck the same piece of woodwork in his attempt to hack the ball clear.
Credit: @premierleague
Everton are making a reputation for themselves as a side who have so little possession in the game but are taking their chances and winning games. Sean Dyche will not be complaining as long as the points keep flowing.
Burnley almost found a way back into the game when Amdouni struck a shot from outside the box but Pickford made a smart save to tip it around the post. In a game of fine margins, Everton will have been glad to see the keeper stand up to be counted when called upon.
Amdouni then played in Larsen, who cut the ball back to Sander Berge. His first-time shot rattled the crossbar before coming back out into play. The assistant had his flag up immediately as it appeared The Clarets’ midfielder had just strayed off before Amdouni flicked on.
Tresor then cut in from the wing, onto his right foot, as he looked to get a shot away. His effort was always rising over the bar as the home fans decided it was time to head to the pub for a Christmas pint with their mates.
It is mind-bending to see fans leaving early in games, you’ve paid the money, stay and get some value for it. The Premier League has shown us multiple times that drama can happen late on in games, but it was not to be for the hosts today.
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