Staff Reporter.
Burnley claimed a massive three points in their quest to stay clear of the Premier League relegation zone with a 2-1 win at Everton which at the same time put a dent in the host’s top-four aspirations.
Sean Dyche’s side began the evening kickoff only four points clear of third-from-bottom Fulham but goals in the first half by Chris Wood and Dwight McNeil earned them victory.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header before halftime gave Everton every chance to turn the game around but they made little impact after the break as Burnley defended well.
Everton’s seventh home league defeat means they remained in sixth spot with 46 points from 28 games, two behind West Ham United and five behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
Burnley are 15th with 33 points, seven ahead of Fulham who are in action later on Saturday at home to runaway leaders Manchester City.
Meanwhile Sam Allardyce said West Brom have a “massive mountain to climb” after defeat at Crystal Palace left the 66-year-old staring at the prospect of a first relegation of his managerial career.
Palace captain Luka Milivojevic scored the game’s only goal from the spot after Darnell Furlong was adjudged to have handled Wilfried Zaha’s cross, leaving the second-bottom Baggies eight points clear of safety with nine matches left to play.
“There’s 27 points available and 20 needed,” Allardyce told Sky Sports. “We can only really afford to drop seven points.
“I’m left frustrated because of the players’ efforts not being rewarded, and that’s a consistent analysis from me.”
The Baggies rarely looked like salvaging a point at Selhurst Park, their only shot on target coming courtesy of Mbaye Diagne 18 minutes from time.
“That shows where our problems have been,” Allardyce added. “We had 12 shots and only one on target.
“At the end of the day you need a natural goalscorer. When you have one, he finds a way to be in the right areas and he doesn’t need more than one opportunity to score.
“We’re defending superbly well and our football leading up to the final third is excellent. We need more responsibility to not only score, but to hit them on target.”
Roy Hodgson’s side went close to doubling their lead in the second half but West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone did magnificently to tip Christian Benteke’s powerful effort over the crossbar.
The Belgian striker was played through by Zaha not long afterwards but was denied by Kyle Bartley’s last-ditch tackle.
The win lifts Palace above Leeds and Wolves into 11th place.