IT’S MAX POWER
Cornet’s late winner boosts the Clarets and puts Toffees in mire
YET again Everton failed to show any cojones as Maxwel Cornet scored a late winner to plunge them deeper into relegation trouble and boost Burnley’s survival hopes.
Frank Lampard questioned his side’s character after their capitulation at Crystal Palace in the FA Cup last month and the Blues were found badly wanting again as they flopped at Turf Moor.
They could not even win what had been billed as their biggest game since surviving on goal difference on the final day in 1998 despite a helping hand from Mike Dean.
Dean awarded Everton two penalties, scored by Richarlison, to turn this relegation showdown on its head after Burnley opened the scoring.
But they wilted as the Clarets showed the sort of desire needed to stay up and deservedly won when Cornet slammed home the decisive goal five minutes from time.
Too many Everton players failed to deliver in this pulsating relegation shoot-out and now they face the very real possibility of going down after 68 years in the top flight.
For Burnley, the great escape is on and they have moved to within a point of the Blues in 18th.
Sean Dyche’s battlers could even jump above Everton if they win at Norwich on Sunday and the Blues fail to beat Manchester United 24 hours earlier. Burnley opened the scoring on 12 minutes with a simple set-piece routine, which highlighted yet again Everton’s defensive frailties.
Cornet swung over a corner to the back post, where the unmarked Nathan Collins scored his first Clarets goal with a cushioned volley.
Everton levelled six minutes later from their first foray upfield. Ashley Westwood pulled Anthony Gordon back and the Everton midfielder accepted the invitation to go down and win the spot-kick.
Richarlison slotted home into the bottom corner and suddenly Everton were transformed. They won their second spotkick when VAR Darren England advised referee Dean to review Aaron Lennon’s challenge on Vitalii Mykolenko. Lennon caught Mykolenko’s leg as the Ukrainian cut back inside and Dean pointed to the spot. Richarlison converted the 41st-minute penalty.
It was an absorbing encounter and Jonjoe Kenny’s cross came off the bar.
Burnley levelled on 57 minutes as Charlie Taylor skinned Kenny on the left before pulling the ball back for Jay Rodriguez to fire home from four yards out.
The winner came on 85 minutes when Ben Godfrey sliced Taylor’s cross, Matej Vydra picked up the loose ball and pulled it back for Cornet to score.
BURNLEY (4-4-2): Pope 6; Roberts 6 (Lowton 72), Tarkowski 7, Collins 7, Taylor 7; Lennon 6 (McNeil 84), Westwood 6, Brownhill 6, Cornet 8; Rodriguez 7, Weghorst 6 (Vydra 80). Goals: Collins 12, Rodriguez 57, Cornet 85. EVERTON (4-4-2): Pickford 6; Kenny 5, Godfrey 6, Branthwaite 6, Mykolenko 7; Gordon 7 (Gray 73), Doucoure 6, Holgate 6 (Rondon 87), Iwobi 6; Calvert-Lewin 6, Richarlison 7. Goals: Richarlison 18 pen, 41 pen.