Burnley 0 Everton 2: Toffees take another three points on the road

Everton deserved this latest win on their travels although as most people would have expected it was not a classic of a contest.

Sean Dyche had a happy return to the ground where he had enjoyed many good times during a near ten year spell as Burnley boss.

His Blues side were characteristically strong, compact and resiliant and controlled the match making it a superb run of four games without conceding a goal since the 0-3 defeat to Manchester United in the first match following the ten point deduction.

That deduction by the Premier League's commission had temporararily set Everton right back leaving them second from bottom of the table and effectively cancelling out all the progress that had made made by the team this campaign.

Many, including perhaps some Evertonians, perhaps felt it might prove a deathnell to the club's chances of staving off a relegation fight for the third straight season.

However, the opposite has proved to be the case with the Toffees showing just how strong, resiliant and determined they now are under Dyche's leadership.

Now, with this evening's 2-0 win over the Clarets, the Toffees have not only wiped out that deficit but have added another two more points to take them seven clear of the drop zone.

It was also fitting that one of the goalscorers tonight would be a former Burnley stalwart as Michael Keane scored Everton's second goal to effectively seal victory.

Keane of course only came into the team because of Jarrad Branthwaite's suspension and I for one was not too 'keen' to see the mistake-prone centre-back return to the side.

But, in a last-minutes further change Dyche unexpectedly brought his other reserve defender Ben Godfrey into the team as well because Vitalii Mykolenko wasn't able to play.

Everton reverted to a back-three in essence and although there were a few wobbles, generally this makeshift backline held firm.

The visitors also continued their recent run of scoring and went ahead through a Amadou Onana set-piece goal that came from a corner put in by Dwight McNeil, another ex-Clarets player.

Keane then added his effort after the initial shot had been blocked, and that was basically it as in all honestly the home side never looked like overturning a two-goal deficit.

Burnley huffed and puffed in the second half but although Zeki Amdouni forced a save from Jordan Pickford and Sander Berge hit the woodwork, it was pretty comfortable thoughout for the Toffees.

So another gritty and robust performance brings three more points as Everton continue their best run of form for years.

If those ten points hadn't been so unjustly taken off them the Blues would now be looking at the top six and Europe next season. Roll on Tottenham next up after the Carabao Cup quarter-final.