EMBARRASSMENT, jubilation and disappointment, all in the space of eight days. If they haven’t already, Everton’s supporters had better strap themselves in for another ride on the emotional rollercoaster this season.

The hopes built by the handsome European victory in midweek came crashing down yesterday as the poor start to the Premier League campaign continued for David Moyes’s side at Turf Moor.

And it brought into sharp focus the desperate need for reinforcements before the transfer window slams shut in a week’s time.

With the Joleon Lescott saga in its final throes, at least Everton will soon be spared the distraction of the tiresome speculation surrounding the wantaway defender’s future that has overshadowed their efforts during the opening week.

Much will now depend on how Moyes spreads the expected £24million windfall Lescott’s departure will generate.

Quite rightly, the Goodison manager is unhappy at being faced with a race against time to splash the cash.

But it’s patently clear another mad scramble before deadline day is required to ensure a fighting chance of maintaining the Premier League progress of recent years.

Having shipped six last week in the opening-day humiliation against Arsenal, one goal was all that was required to see off Everton yesterday, Wade Elliott’s deflected strike 11 minutes before half-time proving decisive.

Everton will point to the 75th-minute missed penalty from Louis Saha but, while Moyes suggested otherwise, few could grumble at the final outcome.

Indeed, but for some smart goalkeeping by Tim Howard, the visitors would not have had the opportunity of making a late surge during the final quarter.

Saha, who has started the season in impressive goal-scoring fashion, should not shoulder the blame for this setback.

Instead, this was a collective failure, the defence understandably unsettled by absentees and Everton worryingly outplayed in the centre of the park by a Burnley midfield marshalled superbly by veteran Graham Alexander.

Moyes may also question his decision to start with Saha as the lone forward.

While a system that has served the Goodison manager well, it was only when Jo was introduced as a second striker for the ineffectual Marouane Fellaini that Everton began to consistently threaten.

That Moyes did not make another change as the visitors chased an equaliser underlined the paucity of options available at present, particularly when inspiration is required from the bench.

And the at times unconvincing performance of Joseph Yobo highlighted the pressing need for at least two new centre-backs.

As Moyes later admitted, Phil Neville, despite his trademark application and professionalism, is not the long-term answer.

Everton have made beating Premier League newcomers an art form in recent years, having won 14 and drawn four of their previous 18 games against promoted sides.

But as Manchester United have already discovered, Turf Moor is not the most accommodating of grounds for visiting teams.