Performing like that will get us what we all want
Everton boss Ronald Koeman was anything but complimentary about Burnley after we’d beaten them at the Turf earlier in the season but today he was far more generous after his Everton side had picked up all three points from a 3-1 win against us.
He said: “I think they started the better team. It took us thirty minutes to understand what we needed to do better and after that I saw the Everton I like to see. Finally, it was a good win.
“I think Burnley started with more aggression than we did. We didn’t play to our game plan but, after the first 45 minutes and with the substitutions that we made, that brought more aggression into the team and maybe some more football in the midfield and we made a good start in the second half.
“It’s always difficult against Burnley because of the direct football they play and they’re physically strong fighting second balls, but we keep the momentum going at home and we’re proud for the fans. It’s another win at home and it’s really important to have a really strong finish in the league. We are breaking records and, if we can keep that going until the end of the season, that would be nice.”
He saw Phil Jagielka score a third successive game and then Romelu Lukaku’s goal gave him the honour of becoming the first Everton player ever to score in nine consecutive home games, breaking the record set by Dixie Dean in 1934.
Koeman said: “It was another goal for Phil from a corner kick. That’s the reason why we always give a lot of attention to our set plays, offensively and defensively. It was great to have that to go 1-0 up and there were mistakes in it going to 1-1 but, okay, after that we had a good reaction.
“It’s also great for Rom, and it’s great for the team because his goals bring a lot of points. It’s a big achievement, the same as it’s a big achievement for the team that we have eight wins in a row at home. I’ve heard Everton in 2017 is the second most productive team behind Barcelona. That’s fantastic for the fans who can enjoy the football and enjoy the wins.”
Sean Dyche saw his side beaten yet again on the road with the crucial first goal a scruffy affair and their second, which restored their lead, deflecting off both Michael Keane and Ben Mee.
“You don’t want to cry it in about luck, and they are a fine side who are going well at home, but when you see a semi bobbly firs goal and then what happened with the second, you come away frustrated.
“The second goal is so important and it hits two of our players and goes in, which is so unfortunate you can’t believe it. Before that we’ve had two cleared off the line and two one-v-ones and numerous other chances when we could have scored, so I am frustrated, but not with the performance because I thought that was decent.
“To come here against a side so in form and edge the first half was really pleasing because they are a fine side. I still felt we were going well in the second half but we just lost our focus for two or three minutes and after that second goal we saw a striker in top form who finished well.
“I thought we were in the game throughout, other than that two or three minutes, but that’s the Premier League and that can change a game, as it did today.”
The Clarets’ boss added: “As I said, I don’t want to cry it in because they are such a good side and in fine form, but it was a pleasing performance today. You have to have performances that mean something and we did that today, although it didn’t get us any reward.
“Our mentality stays strong though and the physicality and belief is very strong, so we just keep on taking the challenges in front of because five points out of five games, after a tricky run, is a good return. We’ve had three clean sheets within that and a big win against Stoke, so this was always going to be a hard game.
“You can’t just change the rule book half way through the season, and performing like that will get us what we all want.”
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