Premier League: Ruthless Eto’o brace fires improving Everton
BURNLEY 1 EVERTON 3
PROUD Everton manager Roberto Martinez hailed evergreen Samuel Eto’o after the striker’s two goals earned the Toffees back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since April.
Record signing Romelu Lukaku also netted for the visitors, while a first of the season for Danny Ings was insufficient to end Burnley’s wait for a maiden three points of the campaign.
It lifted Everton to eighth in the top flight, while newcomers Burnley are above bottom club QPR on goal difference only.
“As a striker, it’s not about how many goals you score, it’s how many chances you need to score,” said Martinez of Eto’o, 33. “The first chance he showed that the mentality is to be ready. I thought he set standards in that respect, but then as a manager I was more pleased with his overall contribution.”
Eto’o pounced for the opening goal in the fourth minute, spreading play to allow Leighton Baines to cross from the left and arriving late to plant a header in off underside of the crossbar.
Lukaku’s careless led to Ings rounding Tim Howard for the equaliser on 20 minutes, but he soon redeemed himself by scuffing Everton back in front following a 24-pass move.
Cameroonian Eto’o made the victory safe five minutes from time when he turned on the edge of the box and whipped a dipping shot past Tom Heaton’s despairing dive and into the far corner.
The former Chelsea poacher might have had a hat-trick but, having dribbled past Heaton, saw his shot come back off the post.