David Moyes criticises Everton display after Burnley draw

Everton manager David Moyes did not mince his words after watching his side labour to a goalless draw away at Burnley, admitting the performance fell well below his expectations.

Although Everton left Turf Moor with a clean sheet and a point, Moyes acknowledged they were second best for long spells and fortunate not to return home empty-handed.

Burnley created the clearest chances of the match and arguably deserved all three points. Jacob Bruun Larsen failed to convert a one-on-one opportunity, while Zian Flemming struck the post in the dying seconds — moments that underlined Everton’s vulnerability on the night.

Moyes, while relieved to escape with a draw, was scathing in his assessment of both the performance and the spectacle.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to come and watch that myself,” he said.

“We know we’re losing creativity, and without Jack [Grealish] as well, it doesn’t help, so it was always going to be a bit of a challenge. But I really hoped we’d play much better than we did today.”

The Everton boss highlighted a lack of quality and fluency as the defining issue, conceding that his side struggled to impose themselves on the game.

“That was probably as poor as we played in some games where our football wasn’t good enough,” Moyes admitted. “Lots of bits of the football just wasn’t at the level I would hope it would be.”

Everton rarely threatened in open play and were unable to wrest control from a Burnley side desperate to end their own winless run.

Despite his frustration, Moyes accepted the value of the result in context, particularly given Burnley’s reputation at Turf Moor.

“But look, you get a clean sheet, you take a point away,” he added. “Burnley’s never been that easy to come to and get a result, so we’ll go away with a point and maybe it’ll prove important later on in the season.”

Having followed Everton closely in recent weeks, this felt like a night where pragmatism outweighed progress — a result taken rather than earned.

Everton will need a sharp response in their upcoming fixtures, with Moyes likely to demand greater control and attacking intent. Clean sheets may keep them ticking over, but performances like this will not be enough if creativity issues persist.

Was David Moyes right to be so critical — or is a point at Turf Moor still a result Everton should value?