Jeff Hendrick’s splendid volley ensured Burnley punished 10-man Everton and further increased the pressure on beleaguered Toffees manager Marco Silva.
Everton have lost their last four league games and find themselves just one place above the relegation zone, while Burnley moved into the top four by stretching their unbeaten run to four games.
Midfielder Hendrick was the Clarets’ match-winner – thumping a first-time side-footed volley into the roof of the net at the far post following Ashley Westwood’s corner.
Up until that point it had been a scrappy contest; home goalkeeper Nick Pope tipping wide Gylfi Sigurdsson’s curling free-kick early on, while Johann Berg Gudmundsson headed straight at Jordan Pickford at the other end.
But the visitors will rue the dismissal of captain Seamus Coleman’s for yellow cards in each half, which Burnley took advantage of with Hendrick’s fine strike.
No Silva lining for Marco
Portuguese manager Silva knew this was a game he needed to get a result in, having spoken beforehand about everyone involved at the club “being on the same page” and that it would “make no sense” to make a managerial change.
Having spent more than £100m on new signings in the summer, Everton had harboured hopes of breaking into the top six. Instead, they find themselves just one place outside the relegation zone with two wins from their opening eight games this term.
They will drop into the bottom three at the end of the weekend if Newcastle beat Manchester United at St James’ Park on Sunday.
This was the first time since January 2015 under Roberto Martinez that Everton had lost four in a row in the league and after keeping back-to-back clean sheets at the start of the season, Everton have now gone without one for six games.
It is evident where their problem lies.
Since Silva came to England in January 2017 as Hull manager, his sides – which also include Watford – have conceded 45 goals from set-pieces, including six this campaign – a league high.
Failing to pick up Hendrick proved vital on this occasion and the home fans chanted “you’re getting sacked in the morning” in Silva’s direction.
Silva stood inside his dugout for the duration of the game – slipping his hands into his pockets after his side conceded and looking forlornly at the turf.
Everton failed to create any real clear-cut chances. Richarlison thumped a strike from the angle straight at Pope, while Alex Iwobi should have done better from eight yards out but his scuffed effort was blocked by Matthew Lowton.
The Toffees may feel aggrieved about Coleman’s red card but the sending off was preventable.
His first yellow was awarded for a late challenge on Erik Pieters in the first half and, needing to keep his composure while on a caution, he barged in high on Dwight McNeil to be dismissed on 56 minutes.
Dyche shows Everton what they missed out on
If Everton are in trouble, Burnley are experiencing the opposite as their unbeaten run takes them into the heady heights of a Champions League spot.
Sean Dyche could easily have been in the opposite dugout for this game, having missed out on the Toffees job to Silva, and he showed Everton what they might have won.
Burnley are a solid outfit with industrious, hard-working players across the pitch, assembled at a fraction of the cost of their opponents.
Hendrick gave warning signs in the first half when his effort from the angle was stabbed away by Pickford’s boot and the Clarets could have gone ahead immediately after Coleman’s red card but Ashley Barnes fired wide.
It was Hendrick who settled it though, with a fine finish, meaning Burnley head into the international break in fine form.
What next?
Everton host West Ham after the international break on 19 October (kick off 12:30 BST), while Burnley travel to Leicester on the same day (15:00 BST).
Line-ups
Burnley
Substitutes
Everton
Substitutes
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Burnley 1, Everton 0.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Burnley 1, Everton 0.
Booking
Ashley Westwood (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
André Gomes (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ashley Westwood (Burnley).
Foul by Michael Keane (Everton).
Chris Wood (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Chris Wood (Burnley) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Ashley Westwood with a through ball.
Offside, Burnley. Dwight McNeil tries a through ball, but Ashley Westwood is caught offside.
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Fabian Delph.
Booking
Djibril Sidibé (Everton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Djibril Sidibé (Everton).
Charlie Taylor (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Yerry Mina.
Substitution
Substitution, Burnley. Aaron Lennon replaces Johann Gudmundsson.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. André Gomes replaces Morgan Schneiderlin.
Foul by Moise Kean (Everton).
Matthew Lowton (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Johann Gudmundsson (Burnley) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Charlie Taylor with a cross.
Attempt saved. Jay Rodriguez (Burnley) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jeff Hendrick.
Offside, Burnley. Jeff Hendrick tries a through ball, but Chris Wood is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Michael Keane (Everton) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lucas Digne with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Everton. Conceded by James Tarkowski.
Jordan Pickford (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ben Mee (Burnley).
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Alex Iwobi.
Attempt blocked. Johann Gudmundsson (Burnley) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Fabian Delph (Everton).
Jay Rodriguez (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Everton. Conceded by Nick Pope.
Attempt blocked. Fabian Delph (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Morgan Schneiderlin.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Moise Kean replaces Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Substitution
Substitution, Burnley. Jay Rodriguez replaces Ashley Barnes.
Goal!
Goal! Burnley 1, Everton 0. Jeff Hendrick (Burnley) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the top right corner. Assisted by Ashley Westwood with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Djibril Sidibé.
Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Lucas Digne.
Foul by Morgan Schneiderlin (Everton).
Ashley Barnes (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Richarlison (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Ben Mee (Burnley).
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