MATCH REPORT: EVERTON 1-2 BURNLEY

Photo credit: Dave Thompson (NMC Pool) 

Everton’s poor home form continued as Burnley won 2-1 at Goodison Park thanks to a Dwight McNeil stunner.

The 21-year-old’s curled shot into Jordan Pickford’s top corner on 24 minutes doubled the Clarets’ lead after Chris Wood had put them in front.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin pulled one back eight minutes later with a close-range header, but the Toffees were unable to find an equaliser and slumped to their seventh Premier League defeat at home this season.

Burnley had been without a win in five coming into the game but made a great start a Tom Davies error allowed striker Chris Wood to fire his side into the lead after 13 minutes.

Promising youngster McNeil then stole the headlines as he jinked away from Allan and then hit a 20-yard strike right into the far corner of the goal via the post, giving his side a 2-0 lead.

Calvert-Lewin did nod Everton back into the game on 32 minutes and had several other good opportunities to equalise but were ultimately too unimaginative to find a way through.

The absence of James Rodriguez and Gylfi Sigurdsson, the latter only made the bench after a knock in Monday’s game at Chelsea, left Carlo Ancelotti’s side looking void of any players capable of unlocking Burnley’s stubborn defence.

The home side’s miserable day was compounded by an injury to Pickford sustained soon after McNeil’s goal which meant England’s no.1 had to be replaced by top flight debutant Joao Virginia.

The defeat leaves Everton five points off the Champions League places, having missed a golden opportunity to close the gap on Chelsea who drew 0-0 at Elland Road earlier in the day.

Meanwhile Sean Dyche’s men remain in 15^th but crucially put three more points between them and 18^th placed Fulham, stretching the gap to seven points.