Rooney dropped as Toffees lose again
RONALD Koeman believes his players are still behind him despite Everton slipping deeper into an early-season crisis.
Koeman’s decision to drop Wayne Rooney for the first time since his return to the club backfired as the Merseysiders were booed off after a solitary goal by Jeff Hendrick continued Burnley’s remarkable away-day transformation. The Clarets have picked up eight points on the road already – one more than in the whole of last season.
And they have come from visits to Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and now Everton – all top seven clubs last term.
Despite a £140 million summer rebuild, Everton are a long way off that sort of level and the pressure is building on Koeman after a run of only two wins in their past 10 games in all competitions.
Their goal shortage after failing to replace Romelu Lukaku is becoming ever more acute. They have managed only four in seven league games – and this was their fourth blank.
But after accusing his players of being “scared to play forward” in their Europa League game against Apollon Limassol, Koeman declared himself happy with their spirit and aggression yesterday, although not with their creativity and finishing.
Asked if he was still the right man, he said: “I don’t answer this type of question. If there is no commitment and no aggression then that is maybe a reason to think about my future but I thank the players for their commitment today.
“We tried everything, the commitment and spirit of the players was really positive but the final result was not. If you look only to the final result then OK but I do not do that. “We started really well, we tried to be the dominant, aggressive team, we had two or three big chances but with their first shot they took the lead.” Koeman said Rooney, left, who was introduced midway through the second half, took his decision professionally. “The reason was to change and bring a second striker in, I had to make a decision about one or two midfield decisions. I opted for Gylfi Sigurdsson and I thought Nikola Vlasic did well on the ball last Thursday and that was the reason not to start with Wayne.
“I explained the situation, that we were changing the style of play and like every professional player he accepted it. He is committed to the team and he showed that. He was really positive.”
Everton fell flat on a tribute day to one of their greatest players – Alan Ball: his granddaughter was the Toffee Girl mascot for the day. They started brightly and had Sigurdsson taken two early closerange chances, the final outcome might have been different.
But Burnley grew in composure and stature once Hendrick had given them the lead in the 23rd minute following a 24-pass move.
Stephen Ward cut the ball back from the byline for Hendrick to evade Morgan Schneiderlin’s challenge and create the time for a cool finish from 15 yards.
For all their possession in the second half, Everton failed to manage a single attempt on target. They had a penalty appeal rejected when the ball hit Matt Lowton’s hand and Ashley Williams went close in added time but Burnley manager Sean Dyche felt his team deserved their victory.
He said: “It was a fantastic goal. If you are ever going to win a game, then win it with that many passes and that finish. It’s not a Barcelona statement but we are improving.
“I don’t think anyone could see the start we have had away from home coming. We’ve got that little bit more assurance when we go to these grounds.”