Burnley 1 Everton 0

Burnley proved their midweek victory over Manchester United was no fluke as they beat Everton at Turf Moor for back-to-back 1-0 home wins.

Wade Elliott's 34th-minute strike gave the Clarets their second Barclays Premier League top-five scalp inside four days.

Everton striker Louis Saha even missed a controversial second-half penalty which had wrongly been awarded after Tony Hibbert went down in the area.

The Clarets knew if they were to replicate the United result they had to begin well and they almost got off to the perfect start after just 40 seconds.

Chris McCann found space on the left to swing over a cross and goalkeeper Tim Howard could only stand and watch as Martin Paterson's header rebounded off the crossbar. The ball dropped to Steven Fletcher who forced the American into a low save.

Two minutes later Paterson had another great chance, this time from Elliot's right-wing cross, but he headed wide.

Everton were ruffled by their opponents' high-tempo start, although it was not just the energy but the football Burnley were playing which was causing them problems.

Manager David Moyes, who had spent much of the pre-match warm-up prowling the pitch with arms folded as he kept a beady eye on his players, was distinctly unimpressed.

A flowing move involving left-back Stephen Jordan, Robbie Blake and McCann saw the latter cross to the far post and although Phil Neville only half-cleared his header Fletcher skewed a shot horribly wide.

Andre Bikey's foul on Saha presented Everton with their first real shooting opportunity but Jack Rodwell drove a 30-yard free-kick into the wall before then heading straight at goalkeeper Brian Jensen from Leighton Baines' corner.

Right-back Hibbert almost set up Saha after Marouane Fellaini's clever reverse pass but the sliding French striker could not divert the ball goalwards.

It came as no surprise when Burnley took the lead in the 34th minute through Elliott.

The midfielder and Paterson had both fluffed their attempts at Blake's right-wing cross but Fletcher turned the ball back to Elliott and as no-one closed him down he picked his spot just inside Howard's right-hand post and curled home his shot.

Less than three minutes into the second half Elliott was booked for an innocuous foul on Fellaini but Burnley showed no signs of easing off and Howard only just snatched the ball off the head of Clarke Carlisle from Blake's inswinging corner.

Saha's 25-yard effort in the 56th minute, from McCann's weak clearance, summed up Everton's afternoon as it sailed high over Jensen's crossbar.

Tim Cahill had swapped with Fellaini to play a deeper central midfield role in the second half but the first time he drove forward he looked threatening and had a shot deflected for a corner.

But Burnley were still creating the majority of the chances and when Graham Alexander's half-hit shot looped up to McCann in the penalty area his overhead kick was tipped over by a stretching Howard in the 63rd minute.

Moyes replaced Fellaini with Jo in an attempt to provide more support for the isolated Saha and take advantage of Burnley dropping deeper defending their slim lead.

The pressure was beginning to grow on the home side Everton were gifted a route back into the match in the 75th minute when referee Phil Dowd awarded a penalty against McCann despite television replays showing Hibbert had gone down without a touch in the area.

However, justice was done as Saha pulled his spot-kick wide of Jensen's left-hand post.

Coyle replaced the hard-working Paterson with Chris Eagles and late on gave on-loan winger Fernando Guerrero his home debut but the Ecuadorian had little chance to show off his talents as Burnley spent the closing moments defending desperately.

This week's results sent a warning, if any were needed, to the rest of the Premier League that Turf Moor will be a difficult place to come this season.