MATCH REPORT : BURNLEY 1-0 EVERTON

Everton arrived at Turf Moor hoping to put an end to three successive Premier League defeats but left without doing so and increased the pressure on Blues boss Marco Silva in the process.

Silva picked a side that should have been capable of achieving a result here, one that cost more than £250m and whilst money isn’t always the answer Everton should have produced better. Instead the Blues were laboured, lacking in discipline plus concentration and beaten once again on their travels by yet another set-piece.

Everton controlled possession in a really poor first half but showed no attacking intent with it. Whenever they worked the ball into good areas they wasted their final pass or overran the ball. The frustrated groans in the away end grew visibly louder as the game progressed.

Burnley set up in their predictable low block formation and unsettled the visitors simply by increasing their tempo and throwing balls into the penalty area during the first half. At times that basic tactic demonstrated how vulnerable the Everton defence could be.

On the half-hour Everton also demonstrated their seeming inability to deal with set plays. Westwood swung a corner over from the left to the back post where Hendrick, unmarked, volleyed goalwards and Jordan Pickford saved well with his legs. It was the only real chance of the first half.

Seamus Coleman was fortunate to escape a red card when he accidentally but dangerously caught Erik Pieters on the back of the ankle. Coleman overran the ball and overstretched and caught Pieters but referee deemed the foul only worthy of a yellow card.

The second half resumed and one surprise was that Coleman was still on the pitch with Blues boss deciding against replacing the Irishman with Djibril Sidibe at half time. It was a decision that Silva must surely regret given Coleman lasted only 11 minutes before receiving his marching orders. Coleman invited the second yellow card with a needless jump into the back of Dwight McNeil for a header he was never going to win on the halfway line.

Burnley won a couple of set pieces and Everton shakily defended them until they were undone with 18 minutes remaining. Westwood delivered a deep corner from the left and there was Hendrick again, unmarked again like the first half, to volley into the roof of the net.

The ridiculous thing about Hendrick being unmarked was that Everton had eight players in their six-yard box to Burnley’s four.

Silva replaced Dominic Calvert‑Lewin with Moise Kean, a move met with boos from the away section. This was due to the fact that he was removing a striker with the team losing  rather than a slight on the young Italian striker. Silva’s formation, selections and substitutions are as predictable as his team’s laboured play.

Burnley had a plan. They stuck to it and won.

The majority of the Everton players walked heads down straight off to the changing rooms whilst manager Marco Silva headed to the away fans and applaud them alone. He was greeted by a sea of V-signs as the frustration of a fourth consecutive defeat spilled over.

Silva needs something to change and fast.

Final Score : Burnley 1-0 Everton 

How they lined up : 

Barry Cass