Burnley´s fairytale start claims Everton scalp

Burnley’s fairytale start to life in the Premier League continued on Sunday as Wade Elliott’s goal earned a 1-0 victory over Everton.

Owen Coyle’s team marked their first home match in the English top-flight for 33 years by beating reigning champions Manchester United 1-0 in midweek and Everton suffered the same fate in front of another vociferous full house at Turf Moor.

The Clarets, promoted via the Championship play-offs last season, took the lead through Elliott’s first half strike and wrapped up their second win in three matches after Everton striker Louis Saha missed a second half penalty.

Saha’s blunder left Everton without a single point from their first two league matches, while Burnley are flying high in seventh place.

Everton captain Phil Neville once again deputised for Joleon Lescott at centre-half as the England defender’s transfer to Manchester City edged closer.

After shocking United on Wednesday, Burnley started full of confidence and almost got off the perfect start after just 40 seconds.

Chris McCann found space on the left to swing over a cross and goalkeeper Tim Howard could only stand and watch as Martin Paterson’s header rebounded off the crossbar. The rebound dropped to Steven Fletcher, but Howard was equal to his low shot.

The Clarets threatened again two minutes later when Elliott’s right-wing cross found Paterson, but he failed to test Howard.

Everton were struggling to contain the hosts and a flowing move involving Stephen Jordan, Robbie Blake and McCann saw the latter cross to the far post but again Burnley’s finishing was poor as Fletcher scuffed well wide.

David Moyes’s team had arrived at Turf Moor on the back of a 4-0 midweek win in Europe, but they seemed drained by their efforts against Sigma Olomouc.

Only a Jack Rodwell header from Leighton Baines’s corner brought Burnley keeper Brian Jensen into action.

It came as no surprise when Burnley took the lead in the 34th minute.

Elliott and Paterson missed Blake’s right-wing cross but Fletcher turned the ball back to Elliott and he had time to pick his spot just inside Howard’s right-hand post.

Everton midfielder Tim Cahill dropped deeper in the second half but the first time the Australian drove forward he looked dangerous and had a shot deflected for a corner.

Burnley were still creating the majority of the chances and when Graham Alexander’s half-hit shot looped up to McCann in the penalty area his overhead kick was tipped over by a stretching Howard in the 63rd minute.

But Everton were gifted a lifeline in the 75th minute when referee Phil Dowd awarded a penalty against McCann despite television replays showing Tony Hibbert had gone down without a touch in the area.

Justice was done however as Saha pulled his spot-kick wide of Jensen’s left-hand post.