Manager Sean Dyche experienced a successful comeback to Burnley, securing his in-form Everton side’s fourth consecutive victory in the Premier League.
After almost a decade in charge at Turf Moor before being dismissed last year, Sean Dyche showed no sentimentalism as his Everton team efficiently moved seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Despite a remarkable save by James Trafford to deny Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header, Amadou Onana capitalized on the ensuing corner, outleaping Burnley’s goalkeeper to score from Dwight McNeil’s delivery.
The visitors extended their lead in the 25th minute when Michael Keane slotted in on the second attempt, capitalizing on Trafford’s initial save and Dara O’Shea’s failure to clear the rebound.
Burnley posed threats in the second half, with Zeki Amdouni forcing Jordan Pickford into a fantastic full-stretch save and Sander Berge hitting the crossbar. However, their challenging season persists as the Clarets remain second from the bottom, now trailing safety by six points.
A win made in Burnley
Having overseen Burnley for over 400 games and securing promotion twice from the Championship, Sean Dyche faced dismissal in April 2022, and the team eventually suffered relegation.
Following Everton’s 10-point deduction for breaching Premier League financial rules last month, concerns arose about potential morale damage and the team, along with their manager, possibly ending up in the second tier.
Contrary to expectations, Dyche has revitalized their season, with the team achieving outstanding form. They secured their 10th victory in the past 14 games across all competitions, elevating them to 16th in the table.
This marked their eighth league win of the current top-flight campaign, matching their total from the entire previous season, underscoring the strides made under Dyche’s leadership.
Notably, the former Burnley manager and two ex-Clarets players, Dwight McNeil and Michael Keane, played pivotal roles. McNeil, narrowly missing a header when the score was level, assisted in the opening goal, while Keane netted the second.
Despite Keane hitting the post in the second half, Everton maintained their fourth consecutive clean sheet. Only league leaders Liverpool and second-placed Arsenal have conceded fewer goals than Everton this season.
Burnley staring into the abyss
Burnley has expressed unwavering support for manager Vincent Kompany, but growing apprehension surrounds the trajectory of their season, with chairman Alan Pace observing the latest setback from the stands.
Having secured only two victories in their 17 Premier League games this season, Burnley narrowly avoids the bottom of the table, edging ahead of fellow strugglers Sheffield United solely on goal difference.
Their home performance ranks as the poorest among all teams in the competition, winning just once at Turf Moor and losing the remaining eight games. Notably, no team has ever survived a Premier League campaign with only eight points at this stage.
Burnley failed to test Jordan Pickford in the first half, and with a 2-0 deficit at halftime, Zeki Amdouni’s long-range attempt, deflected wide by the England goalkeeper, was their closest effort to lift the spirits of their disheartened supporters.
In their upcoming fixture on December 23 against Fulham, Burnley aims for three points to evade a dismal Christmas and potentially ignite hope of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.