James Tarkowski scored against his former club as Sean Dyche’s Everton hammered Burnley 3-0 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.
On a night when the fanbase, which has often been divided over the role of Kenwright spanning almost two decades, rose as one to mark his death last week at the age of 78, the team ensured the occasion was marked in fitting fashion.
The game was opened by Tarkowski’s header in the thirteenth minute. Early in the second half, Tarkowski’s aerial skill was on display when he nodded McNeil’s header back into the danger area, allowing Amadou Onana to poke the goal from close range.
Ashley Young’s first Everton goal in added time came courtesy of substitute Beto’s driving run along the byline, handing Toffees manager Sean Dyche victory against his former side.
The scoreline flattered Burnley, struggling after promotion straight back to the Premier League, whose side registering seven changes struggled to lay a glove on their hosts.
Watched by owner Farhad Moshiri for the first time in more than two years, they were no match for Everton, and they are getting more self-assurance following their fifth win in seven games, which is their best run in a non-Covid-19 season since May 2019.
From the moment Tarkowski buried a header from a McNeil cross the result was barely in doubt.
Although the center back’s celebration was subdued against his former team, McNeil turned to face the Clarets supporters and cupped his ear. During the first half, McNeil was targeted by the travelling supporters for playing on the left wing.
And with a drive just past the edge of the penalty area, he nearly put an end to them.
One of four players retained from the Bournemouth loss, Dara O’Shea, showed Burnley’s incapacity to play out from the back against superior opposition when he passed straight to Dominic Calvert-Lewin, only to be lucky that the striker’s low shot missed.
McNeil’s harsh treatment from the visiting fans was extended onto the pitch when Ameen Al-Dakhil, another player keeping his place, was booked for chopping him down as he threatened to break.
Burnley’s best chance was denied by a sliding James Garner cutting out a cross which was destined to be a Jay Rodriguez tap-in at the far post.
Everton’s lead was only slightly increased when more appalling defending early in the second half gave way to another goal. Jordan Pickford, the goalkeeper, was playing for the first time in 250 matches for the team.
Al-Dakhil lost all perspective of where the ball was, allowing it to bounce off him into the path of Calvert-Lewin whose shot was deflected behind.
From the ensuing corner, Onana delivered the decisive blow, and Everton coasted into the quarterfinals thanks to another close-range effort from Young.
