EPL: Everton 0-1 Burnley
Jeff Hendrick celebrates scoring
Jeff Hendrick got the only goal of the game as Burnley put more pressure on Everton boss Ronald Koeman with a 1-0 win at Goodison Park.
The Toffees’ Dutch tactician appeared to take the heat off himself after last weekend’s come-from-behind 2-1 Premier League win against Bournemouth on home soil.
However, the side’s failure to defeat ten-man Apollon Limassol in their 2-2 Europa League draw on Thursday meant Koeman was looking for a much-needed win to go into the international break.
But, Sean Dyche’s Clarets failed to read the script and, after Hendrick finished off a great team move midway through the first half, they never really looked like conceding an equaliser despite Everton’s greater possession.
The defeat leaves Everton in 16th spot, just two points above the relegation zone, while Burnley move up to sixth on 12 points.
Everton went close in the sixth minute when Dominic Calvert-Lewin pinched the ball off Ben Mee down the right channel and found Nikola Vlasic who picked out Gylfi Sigurdsson on the edge of the area, but the Iceland international failed to get sufficient power in his shot to trouble Nick Pope who got down to make the save.
Oumar Niasse had a half-chance on eight minutes when he toe-poked the ball past the advancing Pope inside the area but Stephen Ward was on hand to take it away from the striker and conceded a corner.
On 13 minutes Matt Lowton’s dangerous cross from the right took a deflection and Jordan Pickford could only punch it clear instead of gathering at his near post.
Jack Cork prevented Sigurdsson from opening the scoring in the 16th minute as he got back to block his close-range shot which looked destined to find the net.
Burnley hit back to take the lead on 21 minutes when Hendrick picked up a Ward pull-back following a good passage of play and then dragged the ball onto his right foot to evade Morgan Schneiderlin’s challenge before placing his effort past Pickford.
Burnley were comfortable after scoring, while the goal knocked the stuffing out of Everton and it took them until 10 minutes into the second half to have their next serious attempt with Calvert-Lewin hitting a shot from distance which was held by Pope.
On 63 minutes Leighton Baines whipped a good cross in from the left which Niasse met in the centre but he could only guide his downward header the wrong side of the front post.
At the other end, Robbie Brady got in down the left of the area on 67 minutes and his attempt to pick out Chris Wood in the middle was thwarted by Pickford who beat the ball away.
On 84 minutes, Tom Davies tried to curl an effort towards goal but Wood got his head in the way to deny the young substitute.
Three minutes later Calvert-Lewin found himself in space inside the area but scuffed his shot which Pope comfortable saved.
Everton had a couple of late shouts for a penalty against Lowton but referee Jon Moss was correct to wave away both handball appeals.