Joe Thomas verdict as Everton end their wait for a win at Hill Dickinson Stadium by beating Burnley 2-0 to boost the club's hopes of qualifying for Europe
Everton's Scottish manager David Moyes waves following during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Burnley at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, north west England on March 3, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
David Moyes waves to the Everton supporters after his side ended their wait for a win at Hill Dickinson Stadium with a comfortable and deserved 2-0 triumph over Burnley(Image: Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
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As the buzz from the celebrations started to fade, a chorus of Spirit of the Blues started in a corner of the South Stand. It took hold among the thousands of supporters in the acclaimed ‘Blue Wall’ and what had started as a murmur quickly grew into a roar that took hold around the pitch.
Fifty-thousand Everton supporters were suddenly starting to remember just what it felt like to win at home.
It had been a long three months since the joy of the victory over Nottingham Forest had sent the Blues into December riding a wave of momentum. That match was a fourth win in five and, in truth, it has taken until now for the side to truly recover from the injuries, suspensions and international commitments that wreaked havoc through Christmas and new year.
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While the home form collapsed - 660 minutes of disappointment and frustration with the extra-time against Sunderland - the away form kept Everton afloat.
And now the curse has been broken at home the Blues enter spring poised for a genuine tilt at Europe.
This was more than just a win for Everton - for David Moyes, the players and the supporters. Through all the joy of the continued success on the road, the failures at Hill Dickinson Stadium rendered those experiences hollow.
The Blues were living two lives and most of those who got to watch them were suffering through the miserable side - through the head losses that proved so costly against Wolves and Bournemouth, and the frustration of countless other matches, typically disappointments under the lights as Moyes' men seem destined never to play a home game at 3pm on a Saturday again.
All that pent up anxiety evaporated in the second half against Burnley. In truth, the hard work had been done in the opening 45 minutes.
The home side started well enough to prevent any nerves from creeping into the supporters but the relief was palpable when James Tarkowski headed past Martin Dubravka on the half hour. He reeled away cupping his ears as Moyes beamed in delight in the dugout. The manager later said he was always giving the centre-back stick for not scoring goals and the celebration may well have been directed towards him.
Everton pushed for a second before the break but could not find it. They had it on the hour mark, though, courtesy of a delightful Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall flick to end a lovely move. Iliman Ndiaye provided the assist and the winger hunted downDwight McNeil once the stadium erupted as the net bulged.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 3: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of Everton scores a goal to make the score 2-0 during the Premier League match between Everton and Burnley at Hill Dickinson Stadium on March 3, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall makes it a 2-0 to Everton against Burnley with a smart finish (Image: Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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McNeil, who won the free-kick for the first goal, was integral to the second, riding a challenge after a one-two with Beto and squeezing a pass beyond the stretch of Hannibal and out to Ndiaye.
That goal, Dewsbury-Hall’s sixth of an impressive first campaign in Royal Blue, killed any fear of Burnley coming back. It meant the whole stadium, save for the away end, could enjoy the final half an hour - something many may have feared would not be the case when Idrissa Gueye delayed his pass to Ndiaye five minutes earlier, drawing his team-mate into an offside position as the Blues had men over in the box. Ndiaye finished the move but needed the pass seconds earlier.
Gueye almost made amends when he slid through Kyle Walker, steadied himself and curled beyond the reach of Dubravka. The crossbar stopped him from scoring a goal to remember.
It did not matter, though. Everton were never in danger of being pulled back by an impotent Burnley team. The home players did not look capable of throwing away this lead either - something they had been guilty of in their winless home run.
Instead, the final minutes were a celebration as they savoured a morale-boosting win on the banks of the Mersey.
It was fitting that the final act of note in this match was the withdrawal of McNeil, too. After making his return at Newcastle United, his first minutes since his deadline day move to Crystal Palace fell through, he was central to this win.
The 26-year-old returned the applause that greeted him from all four stands and Moyes halted him on the touchline, making sure he spent a moment with the midfielder, a player seemingly reborn.
After months of it all going wrong on the Liverpool waterfront this was the night that everything, finally, went right for Everton.
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