Everton 1 - Burnley 0: Kevin Mirallas scores winner to send 10-man Burnley bottom

GOING, going, gone? Burnley are not down yet – but the relegation trapdoor is opening.

Kevin MirallasGETTY

Kevin Mirallas' goal was all that was needed to separate the two sides

When they could have climbed out of the drop zone, they slumped to the foot of the table. They have lost eight of their last 12 games, gone more than six hours without a goal and now have the sent-off Ashley Barnes suspended for Saturday’s crucial clash against Leicester.

They were hurt twice by Kevin Mirallas, Everton’s hero-turned-villain. The Belgian scored the only goal from James McCarthy’s cross. But he should have seen a red card for a lunge at George Boyd. “It is high and late,” said Burnley boss Sean Dyche. “It is impossible he stays on the football pitch.”

But Mirallas did. Instead Barnes made the early exit, booked twice for fouls on McCarthy and Seamus Coleman. “They are two silly challenges, not malicious,” Dyche added.

Ross showed incredible responsibility

Roberto Martinez

Barnes’ dismissal was the one major decision beleaguered referee Mike Jones got right. His awful afternoon began in a minute of mistakes by both sides. David Jones lost the ball and then hacked down Aaron Lennon, but outside the box. Jones pointed to the spot. Everton have one of the best penalty takers in the country, in Leighton Baines. Instead Ross Barkley took it. Tom Heaton saved.

Everton are failing to learn their lessons. Mirallas took a penalty instead of Baines against West Brom. He missed. Barkley stepped up instead of the lethal left-back yesterday, with the same result.

“Ross showed incredible responsibility,” claimed boss Roberto Martinez. “Leighton Baines was happy to give him that responsibility.”

After Mirallas broke the deadlock, Arouna Kone hit the post and McCarthy missed a sitter while Burnley rarely threatened.

REF: M Jones Att: 34,496

EVERTON: Howard, Coleman, Stones, Jagielka, Baines, Barry, Lennon, McCarthy (Besic 88), Barkley, Mirallas (Lukaku 61), Kone (Naismith 80).

BURNLEY: Heaton, Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Mee, Boyd (Wallace 84), Arfield, Jones (Taylor 84), Barnes, Ings, Vokes (Jutkiewicz 59).

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