Elliott strike enough to defeat Everton

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 been awarded after Tony Hibbert went down in the area.

The Clarets 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, and 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 Robbie 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.

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

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, Saha pulled his spot-kick wide of Brian Jensen's left-hand post.