Manager Sean Dyche enjoyed a winning return to Burnley as his in-form Everton side picked up their fourth consecutive Premier League victory.

James Trafford made a superb save to keep out Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header, but Amadou Onana leapt above the Burnley goalkeeper from the resulting corner to nod in the opener from Dwight McNeil’s delivery.

The visitors doubled their lead after 25 minutes as Michael Keane stroked in at the second attempt after his initial effort was saved by Trafford and Dara O’Shea failed to clear the rebound.

Burnley looked to threaten in the second half as Zeki Amdouni forced Jordan Pickford into a fine save at full stretch and Sander Berge rattled the crossbar, but a bleak season continues as the Clarets remain second bottom and are now six points adrift of safety.

A win made in Burnley

Dyche took charge of the Clarets for over 400 games and brought them up twice from the Championship, but he was dismissed in April 2022 and the team eventually went down again.

When Everton were deducted 10 points for breaching Premier League financial rules last month, some thought the sanction could destroy morale and result in the team and their manager ending up in the second tier.

Dyche has instead injected fresh impetus into their season and the outstanding form has continued, his players collecting their 10th victory in the last 14 games in all competitions to move up to 16th in the table.

This was their eighth league win of the top-flight campaign so far, matching their haul from the entirety of last season, and that alone highlights the progress they have made under Dyche.

Not only did Burnley’s old manager come back to haunt them, but two former Clarets players did too as McNeil – who headed narrowly wide when it was goalless – provided the assist for the opener and Keane scored the second.

Centre-half Keane could have had another in the second half but struck the post from close range, as Everton kept their fourth straight shutout, with only leaders Liverpool and second-placed Arsenal conceding fewer goals than the Blues this term.

Burnley staring into the abyss

Burnley have indicated firm support for manager Vincent Kompany, but there is growing concern at the direction of their season, with chairman Alan Pace watching this latest setback from the stands.

They have won just two of their 17 Premier League games this season and are off the bottom of the table only on goal difference ahead of fellow strugglers Sheffield United.

Their home form is the worst of any team in the competition, winning once at Turf Moor and losing the other eight games, and no team has survived with only eight points at this stage of a Premier League campaign.

Burnley failed to draw a save from Pickford in the first half and, after going into the interval 2-0 behind, Amdouni’s effort from range which was tipped wide by the England goalkeeper was the closest they came to providing any cheer for their despondent supporters.

The Clarets travel to Fulham in their next game on 23 December, aiming for three points to avoid a miserable Christmas and provide some hope that they might avoid an immediate return to the Championship.