Had enough of Allardyce

the attack – held little sway with Everton’s support. “F--- off Sam Allardyce,” they chanted as Tosun was taken off. “You’re just a fat, greedy b------,” they shouted as Sigurdsson departed.

Seamus Coleman, the Everton right-back, heard it all. He said: “We’re trying to win our games, but we understand their frustration.

“We know what it means to them. They’re paying good money.

“No one seems to know where Everton go from here. Not even the manager. The season is drifting, it’s been drifting for some time.”

Everton lacked ruthlessness in attack, were sloppy in possession and slack in defence. Captain Ashley Williams lost his cool in collecting a late red card for swinging an elbow at Barnes. Afterwards, there was a hint of acknowledgement from Allardyce that his trusted methods are failing him. He said: “In my time of taking over clubs who are struggling, I’ve never had such a good start as this one, we went seven undefeated.

“You’ve got to instil the basic principles of how to win a game of football into these players so they continue doing well. But that is not happening as well as I expect it to at the moment.”

Burnley, who have actually made a net profit in transfer dealings over the past 12 months, sit above Everton in the table and may yet qualify for the Europa League. Not that their match-winner Wood is thinking that way.

“There are nine games left, and a lot can happen,” he said. “The only thing that is maybe certain is Manchester City winning the title.”