Wood Hails 'Special' McNeil

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Double blast floors Everton as Clarets win it with McNeil prize entry

2021-03-13T18:30:00.000Z

Wood Hails 'Special' McNeil

Double blast floors Everton as Clarets win it with McNeil prize entry

2021-03-13T18:30:00.000Z

PL REPORT: Everton 1 Burnley 2 - Image 1

Chris Wood believes Matt Lowton faces competition for the Clarets’ goal-of-the-season prize after Dwight McNeil’s stunner at Everton.

Lowton looked as though he had the award wrapped up thanks to his masterpiece at Crystal Palace last month.

But McNeil is sure to push him all the way after his brilliant goal – curled into the top corner after slaloming his way into position – helped secure the Clarets’ first win since their triumph at Palace.

“It was very special,” said Wood, whose own effort to set Burnley on their way to a 2-1 win at Goodison Park wasn’t too shabby either.

Clarets' winger hoping to mark 100th appearance with important win

“He’s an extraordinary talent. He’s got that in abundance and pulls it out the bag when needed.

“What a strike and he’ll run Lowts close for goal of the season so far, I reckon.”

Wood – with his sixth goal of the season – and McNeil’s second of the campaign and first Premier League strike away from Turf Moor put the Clarets 2-0 up after 25 minutes.

Europe-chasing Everton were reeling and would have been out for the count had Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s effort moments later found the corner of the net and not the foot of the post.

The Toffees rallied on the back of Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 19th goal of the season to trail by just a single goal at the break.

But Sean Dyche’s men didn’t buckle again as they completed a first ever win-double at Liverpool and Everton in the same season to move seven points clear of the bottom three on the back of just one defeat in their last eight games.

PL PREVIEW: Southampton v Burnley - Image 5

“It’s always nice to perform well, which we have done at times and not got the win, so after the last few weeks it was nice to put a win on the board,” added Wood, who struck for the second week in a row ahead of a three-week break for the Clarets.

“It’s been a difficult run of fixtures for us against some very good sides.

“We’ve picked up some great draws and now we’ve come to a great side and picked up a win, which is nice going into our little break.

“If Jo’s shot had gone in it would have been a different ball game. Conceding five minutes before half time isn’t ideal.

“Going in at 2-0 we’re comfortable. Going 2-1 it’s a tough scoreline to hold onto but it shows our resilience, our team spirit and our good work ethic to get through it and come out on top.

“Things are going in the right direction. There are some big games coming up and after the break we’ll come back firing and ready to go.”