MATCH REPORT: EVERTON 1 – 0 BURNLEY

Clarets fall to defeat against the Toffees

Burnley’s four match unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday afternoon as the Clarets suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s first half stoppage time goal proved to be the difference on Merseyside in a tight contest, despite chances from the Clarets to find the back of the net and the visitors’ task was made even harder with 20 minutes left as Dara O’Shea was sent off.

Manager Vincent Kompany named one change in the starting XI from the side that drew 1-1 with Wolves on Tuesday as Lorenz Assignon returned from suspension and came in for Vitinho who dropped to the bench.

It was a cagey opening 10 minutes with sun beaming down at Goodison, as both sides looked to get into the rhythm of things.

Sean Dyche’s side forced a couple of early corners, but nothing came of them as the Clarets stood strong to clear the danger well from both set pieces.

Burnley then carved open their first chance of the game, as Jarrad Branthwaite’s half clearance fell into the path of Charlie Taylor inside the area, but the full-back’s stinging strike was blocked by the body of Seamus Coleman before the visitors earnt themselves their first corner.

Kompany’s side had another opportunity just before the half-hour mark when Assignon broke down the right and beat Vitali Mykolenko as the Frenchman darted into the box and squared for David Fofana, but former Claret James Tarkowski was there to deny the striker an opportunity on target from close range.

The Clarets were looking lively and so were the attacking duo of Fofana and Lyle Foster, as the pair linked up once again when Foster picked out Fofana inside the box before Mykolenko made a vital interception and Tarkowski cleared the ball.

A few minutes later, Tuesday’s goal scorer Jacob Bruun Larsen had a chance of his own, as the Dane stood over a free kick just outside the area, but the forward’s effort sailed just over Jordan Pickford’s crossbar as the away side began to unsettle the Toffees.

Burnley came close once again with five minutes left of the first half when Fofana met Bruun Larsen’s corner with a glancing header, but Pickford was equal to it.

Despite the Clarets’ pressure on the hosts, Everton then broke the deadlock in stoppage time as Calvert-Lewin blocked Arijanet Muric’s attempted pass with the ball looping over the Kosovan and into the net to put the hosts ahead.

The Clarets started on the front foot in the second half and were pushing for an early opener as Foster raced into the area and aimed for the feet of Fofana, but Pickford gathered and made a quick throw out to McNeil, with the winger breaking into Burnley’s half only for Esteve to slide in and clear the ball well away from the feet of the former Claret.

In the end-to-end encounter, Muric was then called into action on the hour mark when Calvert-Lewin intercepted Assignon’s pass and broke into the area, only for the Burnley No.49 to deny the Toffees forward with his feet.

Kompany then introduced his first substitute of the afternoon, as Vitinho replaced Fofana as the Clarets searched for an equaliser.

Minutes later though the Clarets were reduced to ten men, as O’Shea brought down McNeil just past the halfway line with referee Michael Oliver showing the Irishman a red card.

With a man down and trailing, the Clarets made their second change of the game when Josh Brownhill was introduced for Bruun Larsen with just over 20 minutes to play on Merseyside.

But it was Calvert-Lewin who had a chance to double Everton’s lead shortly after, however the forward could only fire straight at Muric as the hosts looked to capitalise on the ten men.

Both sides then turned to the bench with eight minutes of normal time left to play, as Taylor, Odobert and Asssingon all made way for Amdouni, Gudmundsson and Rodriguez. Meanwhile, Dyche replaced Young and Calvert-Lewin with Harrison and Beto.

There was no way through for the visitors though as Oliver blew the full time whistle with the Toffees taking all three points.

Burnley: Muric, Assignon (Rodriguez 82), O’Shea, Esteve, Taylor (Gudmundsson 82), Cullen, Berge, Bruun Larsen (Brownhill 69), Odobert (Amdouni 82), Fofana (Vitinho 61), Foster

Unused substitutes: Vigouroux, Cork, Benson, Delcroix

Everton: Pickford, Young (Harrison 82), Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Gomes, Coleman, Doucoure, Garner, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin (Beto 82)

Unused substitutes: Virginia, Lonergan, Patterson, Keane, Godfrey, Chermiti, Warrington

Goals: Calvert-Lewin 45+2’,