And Everton did not help themselves with a sloppy, indecisive display far removed from the enterprise and enthusiasm shown during the final hour of their 4-0 win over Sigma Olomouc on Thursday evening.

Like Moyes, Burnley manager Owen Coyle is a Scot who has made his name guiding a Lancashire team up through the lower leagues.

Coyle is revered as a god around these parts, and it’s easy to see why.

With minimal resources, Burnley play a game that is both easy on the eye and robust enough to withstand the unique physical demands of the Premier League.

No doubt buoyed by that famous win over United in midweek, the Clarets almost caught Everton cold in the opening moments when they exploded out of the blocks, a momentum that ensured they remained in the ascendancy throughout the first half.

Less than a minute in, a driven cross from Chris McCann was nodded on to the crossbar by Martin Paterson and Steven Fletcher struck the rebound against Howard’s legs.

Two minutes later, more slack marking from the visitors allowed Elliott the time to arc in a cross that the unmarked Paterson glanced wastefully wide from six yards out.

It took Everton until half an hour before offering an effort on target, Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen comfortably fielding Jack Rodwell’s header from a Leighton Baines corner.

And although Saha was not far from connecting with a teasing Tony Hibbert cross from the right, the home side moved into a deserved lead on 34 minutes.

There was more than a hint of good fortune about the goal, however.

Elliott failed to connect properly when taking a swipe at Robbie Blake’s deflected cross from the left but, after Fletcher retrieved possession, the ball was fed back to the Burnley midfielder whose curling effort from 15 yards took a significant nick off Neville’s boot and looped over Howard before dropping into the net.

With Alexander, the 37-year-old veteran who prospered at Preston under Moyes, influential as a deep-lying midfielder, Everton struggled to build up a head of steam.

Tim Cahill saw a deflected shot bobble wide, but Howard was called upon to make a smart save from a hooked McCann effort after an Alexander shot had fallen into the path of the Burnley midfielder.

Once Jo was introduced midway through the second half, Everton at last began to make inroads.

None more so than in the 75th minute, when referee Phil Dowd pointed to the spot when Tony Hibbert went to ground under the weight of McCann’s challenge.

In truth, it was a questionable award, so Burnley will claim justice was done when Saha blasted the spot-kick wide of Jensen’s left post. Jo had a goalbound effort blocked by Andre Bikey, Saha thrashed a shot just wide from range and Elliott cleared a Rodwell shot after Jensen had gone walkabout, but the home side stood firm.

So the dream goes on for Burnley. But the Premier League is proving a nightmare so far this season for Moyes and his Everton team.