The Everton bus headed out along the M58, the M6 and the M68 to get to Turf Moor in order to take on Burnley. After a difficult run of games including Arsenal and Chelsea, David Moyes had been speaking of the importance of getting back to winning ways and this match presented that opportunity. What was once “The Dyche Derby” is a fading memory for Evertonians.
Burnley were struggling in 19th place with only 11 points to show from their first 17 games which had to be relegation numbers. Everton were in 10th
at Christmas and have a nice run of games coming up so this was a great place to start looking up the table, rather than behind.
Team News
The big news was the unexplained absence of Jack Grealish. As a result, David Moyes made two changes with Dwight McNeil taking Grealish’s place on the left. Tyler Dibling was given the start on the right. His only previous league start had been in the home win against Crystal Palace at the start of October. Beto replaced Barry up front. This was Beto’s first start since the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in late October.
Scott Parker made three changes from the 1-1 draw against Bournemouth. Former Everton loanee, Armando Broja, who scored the late equaliser against the Cherries, started, along with Bashir Humphreys and Marcus Edwards. They were on in place of Zian Flemming and Jaidon Anthony, who dropped to bench and Joe Worrall who was not in the squad.
Match Report
Craig Pawson was Everton’s referee for the fourth time this season as James Garner got the match underway. Everton were wearing their pale lemon yellow shirts with Burnley in their claret and blue. It was Burnley who pushed for an early advantage as Everton tried to sort themselves out.
The travelling Bluenoses were in full voice as Everton slowed the game down to get a few touches on the ball. Broja put Tarkowski under pressure and forced a corner. Pickford completely missed his clearing punch but a nice block from McNeil saved the keepers blushes.
Everton were starting to assert themselves and when Mykolenko delivered a cross, Beto could not get his head around it to direct it goalward. Pickford then had another Christmas hangover moment when he attempted to clear a ball but it hit Broja and thankfully deflected away from the goal.
A quick breakout by Alcaraz was aid off to Dibling who fizzed the ball into the box but Beto could not get a final touch. The resulting corner was delivered by Garner but Dubrovka dealt with it handily. Burnley then took a turn controlling the ball but their efforts were lacking.
Iroegbunam had the ball knicked off his foot which allowed Burnley to drive forward, but Bruun Larsen skied his shot well over the bar. Dibling was then driving down the wing but he had no one in the box so he shot the ball wide of the goal. Burnley then drove forward and when Lucas-Perez crossed the ball, Broja headed the ball well over.
Charly Alcaraz took a shot to the head from Cullen but that did not stop him from getting down the pitch and using that same head to force a save from Dubrovka. Kyle Walker’s long throws were causing issues for the Everton back line.
Everton were starting to assert themselves and some good possession around the Burnley box had Beto stretching to get a final touch but two Burnley defenders were there to prevent the chance. The first half fizzled out as the fans were showing their displeasure.
Half Time Report from our roving reporter at Turf Moor, Brian Kenny:
“It was quickly apparent that Burnley were “there for the taking”. We had a couple of good chances in the first 25 minutes, one of which resulted in a good save by their keeper, resulting in a corner. However, on at least a couple of occasions when we had the chance to break through, we slowed the ball down, giving Burnley the chance to regroup.
After 30 minutes, there appeared to be a lot of effort, but not a great deal of quality. Burnley are not a good side – we should be making them pay, even with so many players missing. Getting on towards half time I ask myself – where is a goal going to come from? It does not look likely, on the present display. A pie and a pint seems very inviting at this stage! Half time 0-0. Not good enough. We need to show more positive spirit in the second half, and more quality.“
No changes for either side as the second half kicked off. A first long throw from O’Brien was delivered and forced a corner. McNeil delivered the corner which was headed to the edge of the box but Garner could not keep his shot down. Dibling then put a pass into Alcaraz but his shot was even higher than Garner’s. In that buildup, Cullen was injured and needed to be replaced by Florentino.
Burnley started to push forward with Marcus Edwards choosing to pass rather than shoot which was a poor choice. Seconds later, Edwards lobbed the ball over the top and Bruun Larsen lobbed it over Pickford but it went just over the bar.
Edwards was at it again and his ball to the middle was met by Bruun Larsen but a great block by Tarkowski was needed to prevent the opening goal. Everton quickly went down the pitch and a lovely ball into the box was flicked by Beto goalward but a nice save from Dubravka was needed.
Everton were controlling the ball again and the it was then Alcaraz’s turn to take a shot at goal but it curled wide of the far post. Seconds later, Alcaraz did a nice bicycle kick which forced a great save from Dubravka. Scott Parker was given a yellow for dissent after getting on the referee for some missed calls. Moyes had seen enough and with 20 minutes to go, Alcaraz and Beto were withdrawn for Barry and Rohl.
Bruun Larsen was then withdrawn for Jaden Anthony as Scott Parker tried to impact the match. A driving run by Dibling ended with a poor layoff to O’Brien. Burnley then had two chances as Humphrey’s shots were first blocked and then shot wide.
Everton had a great chance when Barry drove into the box and delivered a low shot goalward but Dubravka got down well and saved it. A goalmouth scramble then ensued but Everton could not break the deadlock. Tim Iroegbunam was then given a yellow card for a poor challenge on Anthony. Some sustained control play by Everton had no attacking product.
Dibling then took on the Burnley defenders and he was taken down on the edge of the Burnley box. Garner and McNeil stood over it and the delivery by McNeil needed a header from Dahl to clear the ball. The corner was met by Dibling and the ball struck the hand of Anthony. VAR looked at it with no penalty given. Dibling was given a yellow card for taking down Anthony after the shot.
Burnley made another change with Broja and Edwards coming off for Tresor and Fleming. Nathan Patterson was brought on to replace Dibling. Interestingly, Patterson took Dibling’s wing back role. Burnley almost won the match when Flemming passed the ball past Pickford but the ball struck the post and stayed out.
Six added minutes was announced as Burnley looked to get a winner. David Moyes was shouting directions from the touchline to motivate his players. Michael Keane cut out a long cross but forced a corner. Everton tried to get a late winner but O’Brien could not squeeze it past Dubravka as Craig Pawson blew his whistle to put everyone out of their misery.
Everton’s Man of the Match
Tim Iroegbunam: The quality that was lacking up front was not missing in the middle of the pitch as Iroegbunam was at his consistent best. Burnley did not get much past him and the best chance of the match for Beto was created by Iroegbunam. With 12 defensive contributions and three touches in the Burnley box, he was all action in a match that lacked a cutting edge. In reality, picking a player was a challenge this week.
Instant Reaction
Everton had the chances to take the points today with both Beto and Barry being thwarted by Martin Dubravka. This should have been three points for us but we never really controlled the game or put any consistent pressure on the Burnley backline. Moyes was very animated on the sideline but he could not get his team to assert themselves. However, it is a quick turnaround as we head to Nottingham for a match on Tuesday.
The decimated squad for Everton was clearly illustrated in the first half. The quality on show was lacking and the opportunity to take charge of the match was just not on. A first half of half chances and poor finishing was hard to watch. The bench was a who’s who of the U21’s and showed the massive impact of injuries and AFCON. Only Rohl, Barry, Patterson and Aznou have been with the senior team and only Barry has been given any real time on the pitch by Moyes. The Friedkins have a big call to make in the next week or so as they plan for the transfer window.
Barry, Rohl and Dibling to start for me on Tuesday. We were much better in the second half when they were on the pitch with more attacking impetus. Dibling seems to have been told to control the ball rather than drive forward which I believe goes against his natural ability. Driving down the wing needs to be added to our play and he is the one who can do it.
Once again, Everton were denied a penalty when Dibling’s goalward shot hitting the hand of Anthony. On the replay, the hand was extended out from the body and should have been given. Earlier this season, when Garner turned and blocked the ball against Brighton a penalty was given. This hand today was 90 degrees to the body. Where is the consistency and when will VAR step in and make a call for the boys in blue?
