Zaha’s taking a stand as Dyche dedicates win to brother-in-law
BURNLEY manager Sean Dyche dedicated yesterday’s 2-1 over Everton to late brotherin-law Mark Horbatowski who died this week.
The Clarets have now won away games against both Everton and Liverpool in a single league campaign for the very first time and their two victories on Merseyside are as many as the two home clubs combined in 2021.
Chris Wood and a superb strike from the excellent Dwight McNeil put them 2-0 up inside 25 minutes – it could easily have been more as Johann Gudmundsson hit a post and Ben Mee the crossbar – and even Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 14th Premier League goal of the season in the 32nd minute failed to spark a reaction.
Dyche (right) said ‘My wife had to bury her brother, only 46 on Wednesday, and it was a tough day.
‘If ever I was going to dedicate a game it would be for him. I played a song before the game and it was a personal moment for me and my family. I don’t normally do that sort of thing but my wife’s family have had a tough time.’
Everton have won one of the last seven at home – losing five – and that record has severely impacted their hopes of challenging for the top four.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti was less than impressed.
‘The performance was not good at the beginning because we did mistakes and were punished by the mistakes,’ said the Italian.
‘We tried to get in the game and were lucky to score early but in the second half we didn’t have the quality to find an opportunity.
‘It is a big disappointment but we can’t give up. We want to still fight for the position in Europe.’
Elsewhere, Luka Milivojevic’s first-half penalty helped Crystal Palace take another step to safety with a 1-0 win over relegationthreatened West Brom.
Wilfried Zaha, who pre-match became the first Premier League player not to take the knee, won the spot-kick and Roy Hodgson saw his players keep a third clean sheet from their last four games to secure a vital victory. It was a different story for the visitors who lacked a cutting edge and look certain to be relegated to the Sky Bet Championship next season.
The Baggies were unchanged while the hosts recalled Zaha in place of Andros Townsend at Selhurst Park.
Zaha stated last month the pre-match gesture – brought in by the Premier League in June as an anti-racism message when football resumed – had lost its meaning and in a statement last night insisted ‘it doesn’t matter whether we kneel or stand, some of us still continue to receive abuse.’