Sean Dyche made a winning return to Turf Moor as Everton continued their winter resurgence with a comfortable 2-0 win at Burnley on Saturday Night Football.
Two set-piece goals in the space of six first-half minutes put the visitors in control as Amadou Onana broke the deadlock with a firm header from Dwight McNeil’s corner (19).
Michael Keane, on his first league start since August, then scored Everton’s 10th goal from a dead-ball situation moments later after keeping his composure to slot past James Trafford after initially being denied from close range (25).
The result moves Everton up to 16th in the Premier League – seven points clear of the relegation zone after Luton’s game against Bournemouth was abandoned earlier on Saturday – while Burnley stay in 19th place, six points adrift of safety.
“Had they not had that 10-point deduction, right now we would be talking about Everton pushing for Europe,” said Jamie Redknapp. “That’s how well they’re playing. They are so well organised and they’re playing with a great energy. You can see their belief in everything they are doing right now.”
SkySports