O'Shea sees red as Muric and Clarets gift Everton a priceless win

EVERTON 1 BURNLEY 0 

SEAN Dyche was handed a much-needed gift by his former club Burnley and their goalkeeper Arijanet Muric as Everton recored a win that looks priceless in their attempts to stay in the Premier League.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who ended a six-month goal drought in the midweek draw at Newcastle, was the beneficiary of Muric’s appalling error here.

The goal lifted Everton 10 points clear of their visitors, and four points above the three relegation places, to offer the beleaguered Merseyside club some breathing space.

A difficult task for Burnley became all the more so when Dara O’Shea was shown a straight red after 66 minutes, for tripping former Claret Dwight McNeil on the halfway line.

But the visitors only had themselves to blame for being a goal down - and a step closer relegation - by that stage.

Goodison was just beginning to show signs of real unrest, with a half-time booing surely imminent, when Burnley gifted them an advantage they scarcely deserved in the second minute of added time.

Muric controlled Lorenz Assignon’s back-pass and was under no pressure on the edge of his six-yard box, dribbling forward and, inexplicably, ignoring the presence of Calvert-Lewin.

By the time he decided to kick the ball upfield, the Everton striker was on him and Muric’s pass simply ricocheted against Calvert-Lewin and back over the Burnley line.

It was a devastating blow for Vincent Kompany’s side, whose recent four-match unbeaten run had fuelled distant hopes of survival.

And they enjoyed enough first half possession, and chances, to have edged in front in a game in which the tension was high, from before kick-off.

Everton can expect a verdict on their second Premier League financial irregularity charge next