Marco Hails Quick-Silva Everton Players For Good Job On Burnley

4th May 2019

Toffees explosive start inspires 2-0 victory over visitors at Goodison Park to boost hopes of Europa League qualification

Everton FC forward, Richarlison, celebrates scoring against Burnley FC at Goodison Park on Friday, May 3, 2019. PHOTO/Everton FC
Everton FC forward, Richarlison, celebrates scoring against Burnley FC at Goodison Park on Friday, May 3, 2019. PHOTO/Everton FC
SUMMARY
  • Everton barely let the visitors escape their own half during an opening half hour at Goodison Park when Silva’s side scored twice and was operating at a possession rate of around 80 per cent
  • Silva, though, insisted Everton would not become fixated on the table, preferring to focus on factors within their control
  • Centre-back Jagielka, who scored the only goal of the game against Arsenal last month and has played seven matches in the Premier League this term – four of them starts – was greeted uproariously by the 19th sold-out Goodison crowd of the season

LIVERPOOL, England- Marco Silva says Everton’s explosive start against Burnley on Friday night was “everything I want to see” from his Toffees team.

Everton barely let the visitors escape their own half during an opening half hour at Goodison Park when Silva’s side scored twice and was operating at a possession rate of around 80 per cent.

Richarlison’s shot deflected off Burnley defender Ben Mee before flying past Tom Heaton to give Everton the lead their dominance merited on 17 minutes.

And the hosts doubled their advantage three minutes later when Seamus Coleman was first to react after Burnley goalkeeper Heaton beat out Lucas Digne’s hard-hit 20-yard drive.

“Our first 30 minutes was fantastic, almost all the first half was excellent, but for the first 30 minutes we did really well,” said Silva.

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“We played offensive football with quality and there was a fantastic reaction every time we lost the ball.

“It was everything we planned and everything I want to see. 

“We deserved the three points and all the credit goes to our players, they did well again. 

"And to our fans, they repeated the atmosphere from our past four home games. When they are really behind us, and we are giving them what they desire, we are really strong.”

Everton have completed their Goodison campaign with four straight victories, after beating Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United in the past eight weeks.

It is five unbeaten at home, too, a draw against Liverpool igniting the sequence that concluded with this 2-0 success – which completed a Premier League double over Burnley this term.

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Everton have recorded eight clean sheets in 10 matches. At Goodison it is five shutouts on the spin, Jordan Pickford undefeated in Everton’s goal since Gabriel Jesus scored for Manchester City way back on February 6: a period which encompasses 450 minutes.

Job well done

This victory over Sean Dyche’s side lifted Everton above Leicester City into eighth spot and within one point of seventh-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Silva, though, insisted Everton would not become fixated on the table, preferring to focus on factors within their control.

In that respect, the manger considered his side’s work under the Goodison lights against Burnley a job well done.

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“What we can control is our games, the match tonight and the next one [at Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday]," said Silva.

“We did our job, now we will rest and prepare for the next match.

“I thought we deserved more last week [0-0 draw at Crystal Palace] but we didn’t score the goal. We did tonight, this weekend our job  is done, now we will see what the others do.”

Silva introduced captain Phil Jagielka in place of Gylfi Sigurdsson for three added minutes.

Centre-back Jagielka, who scored the only goal of the game against Arsenal last month and has played seven matches in the Premier League this term – four of them starts – was greeted uproariously by the 19th sold-out Goodison crowd of the season.

“I had one more substitution and Jags deserved to come on,” added Silva.

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“I knew the atmosphere was really good and the reception for him would be fantastic, which was everything he deserved.

“It has been a different season for him, he didn’t play as much as he has in the past 11 years, but as captain he has been really good.

“He has had a different role with really tough competition in his position

“His behaviour during the week is really good and when his team needs him, he is there.

“It is everything we expect from a fantastic professional and a good captain.”

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