EVERTON’S 68-year stay in the top flight is in grave danger after Maxwel Cornet completed a sensational Burnley comeback.
Frank Lampard’s men were gifted the chance to pull themselves to safety courtesy of two soft first-half penalties against their relegation rivals.
Burnley’s Ivorian defender Maxwel Cornet hails his crucial late winnerCredit: AFPBoss Frank Lampard sums up Everton’s feelings as their relegation fight got realCredit: GettyJay Rodriguez rejoices after his equaliser put Burnley on the way to victoryCredit: Getty
But the dismal Toffees could not take advantage – and how the spirited Clarets made them pay.
In a rousing second half Jay Rodriguez pulled them level before Ivory Coast international Cornet swept home a dramatic 85th minute winner.
So after a breathless night at Turf Moor, Burnley are now just one point behind the Merseyside club with nine games still to play.
And Everton’s next four fixtures include matches against Manchester United, Leicester, Liverpool and Chelsea.
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The best you can say is that it might get worse before it gets better. But even the most optimistic Evertonian would have to admit the unthinkable could now happen.
Despite their recent lack of goals, Burnley made a decent start as Charlie Taylor saw an early shot blocked and then Ashley Westwood sent an effort high and wide from 15 yards.
Everton looked nervous and it was no more than the Clarets deserved when they took the lead in the 12th minute.
Cornet swung a corner to the back post and defender Nathan Collins was unmarked at the back post to steer a volley beyond Jordan Pickford.
It was the Republic of Ireland international’s first goal for Burnley – and his team’s first in 416 minutes of football.
Yet the lead was to last only six minutes as Taylor was adjudged to have pulled back Anthony Gordon in the area.
It looked a soft one but there were not many complaints by the home defenders. Richarlison sent Pope the wrong way from the spot to score in the league for the first time since mid January.
Considering both these teams had scored only twice in their previous six matches it had been a surprising start to the game.
The Brazilian almost added a second when he latched onto a pass from Abdoulaye Doucoure but Pope touched his effort over the bar.
Four minutes before the break Ukrainian defender Vitalii Mykolenko went down under a challenge from former Toffees wideman Aaron Lennon in the box.
Referee Mike Dean seemed certain it was not a penalty but the VAR told him to have another look on the screen – and you know what that means.
Maxwel Cornet arrives to slot Everton in deep trouble with his 85th-minute clincherCredit: ReutersJay Rodriguez enjoys his equaliser in the relegation battle at Turf MoorCredit: Reuters
Richarlison produced almost a carbon copy of his first penalty to score again – and the Toffees had become the first away side in Prem history to score two first half penalties.
The ex-Watford man only had four league goals in an injury hit campaign before this – now he was eyeing the match ball.
Everton had won only once in 14 matches on their travels this season and that solitary victory came way back on the August Bank Holiday.
No wonder their travelling fans – who included Derby boss Wayne Rooney – were in good voice.
Burnley have won only twice at Turf Moor in the current campaign and went in at the break staring down the relegation barrel.
And it could have been curtains soon after the re-start as Cornet’s header dropped to Gordon who played in Richarlison.
The Brazilian had a golden chance of a hat-trick but he lashed his shot wide of the angle while a mishit cross from Jonjoy Kenny clipped the bar.
Those looked to be big moments when the Clarets were rewarded for their lively start to the second half with an equaliser.
Burnley frontman Jay Rodriguez nips in to make it 2-2Credit: ReutersRicharlison takes plaudits after his penalty double seemed to turn the tablesCredit: ReutersBrazilian striker Richarlison shows similar technique to his first spot-kick as he puts the Toffees in front with his second penaltyCredit: Getty
Taylor made a magnificent run down the left and cut in before rolling over a low cross that Jay Rordriguez poked home.
The homegrown striker got a leveller against Manchester United in February and had again dragged his team back into it.
It truly was anyone’s game now.
Richarlison brought a flying save out of Pope with an acrobatic overhead kick.
Then a long-range header from Dominic Calvert-Lewin landed on the roof of the net.
But Burnley had their moments too as some nice hold up play rom Wout Weghorst gave Cornet a chance but Pickford tipped his effort over the bar.
The home side had the bit between their teeth now though and when Ben Godfrey shanked his clearance sub Matej Vydra pounced.
His pull back from the left hand touchline was perfect for Cornet and he swept the ball home to spark wild celebrations. What a moment that could be.
Nathan Phillips nips in to fire Burnley’s early opener from a cornerCredit: ReutersClarets’ defender Nathan Collins celebrates his quick breakthrough but saw Everton fight back to lead before the intervalCredit: ReutersRicharlison strokes Everton level with the first of his two first-half penaltiesCredit: Getty
