Subs sink Toffees

Last updated : 23 October 2016 By The Editor's Chair

Burnley gaffer Sean Dyche, so often the target of Clarets' fans wrath for not using his substitutes, played a blinder on Saturday as the Clarets recorded a hard earned victory over their yellow shirted visitors from Merseyside.

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Photo source: PA.

A packed Turf Moor saw Burnley finish the day with a 2-1 victory over the Blues of Everton, to go with their famous early season 2-0 home win over the Reds of Liverpool.

The result means both of Merseyside's Premier League teams have now been put to the sword at Turf Moor by Sean Dyche's Premier League newcomers.

In the continued absence of the banned Andre Gray, Dyche stuck with his new 4-5-1 formation. Scotty Arfield and Michael Kightly coming in for the injured Steven Defour and George Boyd.

Burnley went into their dressing room 1-0 up at halt time, courtesy of a single goal from a Sam Vokes predatory tap in. The first half had been fairly evenly matched in a hard fought Lancashire derby.

On the resumption, Everton flew out of the blocks and had the Clarets pinned back on the ropes. Keane and Mee defending for their lives, somehow managed to keep the Toffees at bay.

That was until Everton's big money summer signing Yannick Bolasie seized upon a loose ball and thumped in a well deserved equaliser on the hour mark.

It now looked like Everton might just go on to steal all three points. Sean Dyche however, had other ideas.

Burnley continued to battle and press with the impressive Hendrick and Marney working their socks off in a midfield battle with Gareth Barry and his troops.

Dyche called upon his three substitutes James Tarkowski, Jon Flanagan and Patrick Bamford to enter the fray for the departing Vokes, Ward and Kightly.

The fresh legs seemed to give the Clarets new impetus and the game became more of a contest as both sides looked for an unlikely late winner.

Burnley's Icelandic international Johann Berg Gudmundsson who is now looking to be the Premier League's best buy of the season, rattled the crossbar in the ninetieth minute with a ferocious effort.

The ball fell into the path of Clarets' Canadian international Scotty Arfield who smashed home a difficult half volley to snatch a vital three points for Sean Dyche's battling Burnley outfit.

With his ban completed, Andre Gray is available for selection for the Clarets next away game at Old Trafford when the Ginger Mourinho comes up against the Portugese imposter.

On the evidence of this performance, Andre Gray might just find himself on the bench with the rest of yesterday's heroes. (TEC).