DYCHE’S DWIGHT DIAMOND
McNeil’s a sparkler for Clarets as Carlo’s home horrors keep piling up
THE curse of Goodison Park struck again for Carlo Ancelotti as Burnley bumped themselves upwards with a special strike by Dwight McNeil.
The Clarets winger has bundles of skill and a bright future, with plenty of big clubs all eyeing the young England Under-21 ace.
If the talented star has a flaw, it’s that his ability should deliver more goals.
But on another bad night on home turf for Everton, McNeil was the Burnley hero with a strike as sweet as you’ll see.
His 24th-minute curling left footer into the top corner from 20 yards after a powder-puff challenge by Brazilian Allan gave Jordan Pickford no chance and ultimately condemned Everton to defeat.
Little wonder Burnley boss Sean Dyche was gushing about the youngster.
He said: “It was an exceptional goal from an exceptional talent.
“One day he’ll go on to a bigger and better club, not that we aren’t a good club, but one of the superpower clubs.
“It was a fantastic goal. It shows you what I know – I was asking him to switch, but he chopped inside and shot.
“I believe in him, we all do, but sometimes he puts too much pressure on himself, he demands too much.
“It’s admirable in a way, sometimes he’s too conscientious but he’s a very good player and can only get better.”
It was the Toffees’ seventh defeat in the league at home – a shocking statistic that’s undermining their attempts to secure a Europa League place.
And it leaves them in danger of dropping further down the table if Tottenham win today’s north London derby and Liverpool triumph at Wolves tomorrow.
Ancelotti (left) said: “We had a bad start, we made mistakes and were punished.
“After that it was difficult to get back in the game because we didn’t show the quality that was necessary.
“There are still 10 games in the Premier League and we have to fight until the end, but it’s difficult to explain. We have to do better at home.”
It’d be easy to paint this as another Everton failure, but it was more of a rousing Burnley success.
Dyche’s men were outstanding in every department, pulverising Everton in the opening halfhour then defending with steel and commitment as Ancelotti’s stars chased the game in the second half.
McNeil’s
goal
was eyecatching, but so were towering defensive displays by Ben Mee and James Tarkowski, with Josh Brownhill superb in a dynamic midfield.
The Clarets have slowly recovered from a poor start to the campaign to climb away from danger with three more wins from the last nine games certain to see them to safety.
And they couldn’t have wished for a better start against Ancelotti’s Europe-chasing
We had a bad start, we made mistakes and we didn’t show enough quality. We have to do better at home
stars. Richarlison gave the Clarets an early scare with a low drive well saved by Nick Pope before Burnley took
charge on 13 minutes. Brownhill robbed Tom Davies to free McNeil who immediately looked for a ball into the box.
Michael Keane could only divert into the path of Chris Wood, who cleverly beat Pickford with a curling strike for only his fifth goal of the campaign. The goal put the skids under Everton.
Everton’s Mason Holgate was lucky to escape conceding a handball at the back post, but referee Jon Moss was unmoved and so was VAR.
Seconds later, though, Burnley led 2-0 with McNeil’s sumptuous 20-yard finish. As Everton imploded it was almost 3-0, with the post keeping out Johann Gudmundsson’s low drive.
But diving for the save Pickford injured himself and limped off moments before half-time, with Portuguese keeper Joao Virginia coming on for his Premier League debut.
By then Everton had pulled a goal back, with Davies making amends for his role in Burnley’s opener with a perfect cross to tee up a trademark Dominic CalvertLewin header which flew past Pope.
Everton huffed and puffed after the break but Burnley went closest, with Mee heading McNeil’s corner onto the bar.