James Tarkowski and Keirnan Dewsbury-Hall were on target as Everton ended their troubling home record in a 2-0 win over Burnley, securing their first victory at the Hill Dickinson since December and moving within two points of sixth place.
Seven games into life at their new ground, Tarkowski gave Everton the breakthrough when he converted James Garner’s teasing set-piece delivery to head home against his former club. The centre-back, who netted his first goal in a year, cupped his ears towards the away end as Everton set the foundations to keep their European hopes alive.
Dewsbury-Hall’s second-half dink, teed up by Iliman N’diaye, made sure of the result. Burnley offered very little response to Everton’s dominance, and Jordan Pickford’s stoppage-time stop to deny Lyle Foster — his second big save in stoppage time after Newcastle — will have left Clarets heartsick.
The absence of an in-form Zian Flemming through injury contributed to Burnley’s lack of cutting edge. The away fans showed little encouragement, chanting at one substitution and expressing frustration as the match wore on.
Conceding twice stretched Burnley’s goals-against tally to 58, the most in the Premier League this season. Back-to-back defeats open the door for bottom-side Wolves to close in on 19th place.
David Moyes (Everton head coach) to TNT Sports: He said it would be “amazing” if the club could push for Europe, recalling his time at West Ham where survival was followed by European qualification. Moyes stressed the importance of the win, praised the home support and singled out Dwight McNeil for his work, while urging the squad to keep pushing ahead to key upcoming fixtures.
Scott Parker (Burnley head coach) to TNT Sports: Parker admitted his side “fell short in many aspects,” saying they were second-best for long periods, lacked quality with the ball and were “never in the game from start to finish.”
Story of the match in stats
What’s coming up in the Premier League?
– Everton fixtures
– Burnley fixtures
– Premier League fixtures