Eto’o ‘exceptional’ as Toffees sink Clarets

Burnley 1 Everton 3

So that was left to everyone else to do after Samuel Eto’o lit up Turf Moor with a virtuoso display book-ended by two goals which continued the Clarets’ winless start to the season.

The 33-year-old started only his second Premier League game for the Merseysiders — three days after playing in France, as Everton drew with Lille in the Europa League — and after scoring the first goal with a classic striker’s header, guaranteed the victory with a sumptuous curling shot four minutes from the end.

In between time, Romelu Lukaku had restored Everton’s lead after Danny Ings’ first Premier League goal had given Burnley hope.

But this was Eto’o’s day, and under questioning, Martinez — who backed his judgment in the summer to sign the 33-year-old when others, including Liverpool, had their doubts — cracked a little.

Martinez said: “I think everyone will speak about his goals and his finishes. But it is not about the goals he scored, it’s about how many chances you need to score.

“The first chance showed that his mentality is to be ready. I thought he set standards in that respect.

“As a manager, I was more pleased with his overall contribution. I thought his link-up play was exceptional and his defensive work was very disciplined.

“And for someone of that experience in that part of his career to be able to play two 90 minutes on Thursday and today shows the way he looks after himself and what an incredible professional to have in a young group. I was extremely proud of his performance.”

Eto’o was selected for the first time along with both Lukaku and Steven Naismith, who were among six players rested for the trip to France, as Martinez went for the kill.

And Burnley manager Sean Dyche was forced to concede that, as well as his side competed for long periods, the gulf in class in front of goal had again been telling.

“It’s been decided more or less once again on high quality players doing what high quality players do, and that was their clinical edge against ours,” said Dyche,

“Our general performance was good, particularly in the first half. That clinical side of the game is definitely where it’s at for us at the moment.”

With Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy also back on starting duty, Everton were ahead after just five minutes when Eto’o headed in a Leighton Baines cross.

Burnley levelled when Lukaku’s mistake allowed Lukas Jutkiewicz to release Ings to round Tim Howard and level.

But Everton were back in front before half-time when Lukaku showed a flash of quality to finish with a clever clipped shot into the corner after Ireland’s Stephen Ward, starting his second Burnley game, had superbly blocked his initial effort.

That might have been enough but Eto’o fittingly made sure when he turned and steered a shot beyond Tom Heaton from 25 yards, only then being denied his hat-trick by the width of a post.

BURNLEY (4-4-2): Heaton 6; Trippier 7, Duff 6, Shackell 6, Ward 6; Boyd 5 (Chalobah 87), Arfield 7, Jones 6, Kightly 6 (Sordell 84); Ings 7, Jutkiewicz 6 (Barnes 65, 6).

EVERTON (4-3-3): Howard 6; Coleman 7, Alcaraz 6, Jagielka 7, Baines 7; McCarthy 6, Barry 8, Osman 6 (Pienaar 82); Naismith 6, Lukaku 7 (Barkley 65), Eto’o 8.

Referee: Andre Marriner.