Everton harbour ambitions of bringing European football to Hill Dickinson Stadium next season and a first Premier League win at their new home in seven attempts will increase the optimism. The hosts were effective, rather than magnificent, against a woefully poor Burnley but the result is all that matters.
Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City are the next three visitors to Everton, so goals from James Tarkowski and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were essential as they looked to build momentum. It was only Everton’s fifth win in 15 league games since leaving Goodison Park, helping solidify their position in eighth, which could be good enough for continental qualification come the end of the season.
The most notable moment from the first quarter of the match was the Everton kick-off routine. Dewsbury-Hall produced an up and under to put pressure on the Burnley backline, one assumes to promote England’s rugby union match against Fiji at this stadium in July. Kicking for territory was a key part of the Everton plan as they sought to create danger by earning corners and free-kicks.
There was zero entertainment value in the early exchanges, which mainly consisted of Everton contemplating ways of defeating the Burnley low block, only to realise they lacked any creative thought. There were a few corners thrown into the box without success and it was understandable why the atmosphere was completely flat.
