Burnley off the Pace in happy return by Dyche
SEAN DYCHE would not want to gloat but there was a sense of karma in seeing Burnley chairman Alan Pace squirm in his seat.
Dyche’s first return to Turf Moor where he spent 10 successful years before his dismissal in 2022 was a big thing for Burnley supporters, who gave their old boss a warm ovation.
From Pace in his programme notes, no mention at all, not even a brief thank you.
He will know from yesterday’s game that Dyche remains a manager on top of his game.
His current team outclassed his old one, with first-half goals from Amadou Onana and another Clarets old boy Michael Keane earning Everton their fourth win a row.
They are seven points clear of the relegation places, even with their 10-point deduction for financial breaches, while Burnley are jointbottom.
The only sunshine for the home side was the welcome return of half-time substitute Lyle Foster who played his first football since October after receiving support for mental health issues.
Everton would be ninth without any Premier League punishment and they dominated the opening 45 minutes attacking the end of the ground housing their supporters. Dwight McNeil, one of three former Burnley players in the Everton line-up, went close with a header and James Trafford produced an excellent stop to deny Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Burnley could not survive the pressure and when McNeil curled a 19th-minute corner to the far post, Onana escaped marker Josh Brownhill and headed in.
Six minutes later, it was 2-0. Jordan Pickford’s free-kick was flicked on by James Tarkowski and Keane beat James Trafford at the second attempt after a deflection off Dara O’Shea presented the rebound.
It was the defender’s first goal since April on his Premier League start since August. Godfrey then made his contribution with a wonderful interception denying Zeki Amdouni a tap-in. In the second half, Keane hit the post for Everton and Sander Berge the crossbar for Burnley but Dyche saw the game out.
‘I have huge respect for the club. I had a fantastic time. It helped me and my life,’ he said.
On Pace’s snub, the Everton boss added: ‘I saw Alan Pace in the hotel this morning where we were staying. Said hello. Football is a weird business. I’m not going to throw my dummy out.’
Kompany admitted the reappearance of Foster was sooner than anticipated. ‘It was the opinion of the experts that keeping in his natural environment is important and playing football is something that makes him happy,’ he said.
‘Forty-five minutes was physically what he was able to do but let’s not confuse things, this is only part of the process of getting him back.’