Precious goals seal vital win over Bournemouth

Everton 3 - 0 Bournemouth

Everton scored early through Garner and added good goals from Harrison and Doucoure to secure a vital win over fellow strugglers Bournemouth.

Jack Harrison made his full Premier League debut for Everton as manager Sean Dyche made one change to his starting line-up, with Onana dropped, supposedly for being late into training yesterday, while André Gomes was still not involved.  

That was until Gana picked up an injury in the warm-up and Onana stepped in without being replaced on the bench.

The game kicked off in the sunshine, but it was a pretty sluggish opening, Everton's first attack failing on the edge of the penalty area when Harrison was dispossessed. McNeil tried his best on a few occasions to break through but was thwarted each time.

But with nothing much really happening, a slip by Billing allowed Ganer to snap up possession, move forward and pick his spot, well wide of the keeper Neto but firmly into the Park End net for a fine opening goal to give Everton the lead. 

Everton tried to penetrate again but the ball didn't roll for them and in the aftermath, Young caught an ankle and was shown his customary very early yellow card. The Cherries did better to keep Everton at bay and finally got forward, with a free-kick that went first to a Bournemouth man but was then cleared.  Solanke chased a ball forward and fired high into the side netting. 

It was really scrappy stuff in midfield. But Doucoure set up McNeil for a strike across goal from distance that he sliced well wide.  From a free kick, Harrison's shot was blocked and Doucouré's shot set up nicely by Branthwaite deflected into Neto's hands.

McNeil won a corner after being fed by Mykolenko that Garner delivered really well, a defender glancing it over and behind at the near post. The second corner was punched by the Neto then headed behind for a third corner, brilliant to the far post, Calvvert-Lewin denied by a pack of red & black shirts. The fourth corner was finally cleared. 

Senesi fell awkwardly from an aerial challenge with Calvert-Lewin, with the Everton players bizarrely penalized. This allowed Bournemouth to get forward with Everton hearts in mouths but the chance didn't come.  Everton needed to defend and hope the ball didn't run for the visitors. But it kept coming back and Mykoleno had to put it behind for a Bournemouth corner. 

A really dangerous ball in was watched all the way and headed behind by Branthwaite but nothing came of that corner, giving Everton a chance to play forward but no structure to the long-ball attack Onana shitted out of a key block allowing Kerkez to drive forward to shoot over. 

Bournemouth attacked again and won a dubious corner, wellied clear to no-one by Ashley Young. Everton edged forward and the ball finally fell for Garner to shoot but it was half-blocked. Branthwaite was penalised for a tackle on Christie. The free-kick was aimed to the wide man again and headed back to Ouattara who smashed it over.

Some great play by Calvert-Lewin saw him keep the ball and then cut in along the byeline and tried a cutback. More Everton corners ensued. The second glanced on superbly by Branthwaite but over everyone. The ball was punched out to Harrison who delivered a superb finish from the edge of the area over everyone and in off the underside of the bar, an excellent strike. 

Bournemouth looked to play forward again and were helped by Onana who gave the ball back to them not once but twice. But Calvert-Lewin got free and played in Garner who drove forward, looked up, say Doucoure and played his pass perfectly to where Doucoure should have been – only he'd stopped and decided to go backwards! Brilliant chance completely missed. 

In a splendid flurry of action just before the break, Young put in a great cross to Calvert-Lewin whose header hit the top of the crossbar. Then Mykolenko picked out Onana with his cross who spun and screwed his shot inches wide. 

After the restart, Doucoure was gifted an incredible chance for the third but he literally passed it softly to Neto! An incredible failure to strike the ball with any effort, desire or intention. And Bournemouth immediately put Everton under pressure without causing any damage. 

Everton pushed forward but could not advance, Branthwaite timed a brilliant tackle on Solanke to stop him dead in his tracks. The game was largely back and forth in midfield with neither side in command. Harrison was fouled by Kerkez, setting up a free-kick opportunity for Garner to deliver but instead it was McNeil who chipped in straight to a defender and was cleared.

Solanke was finally booked for a pullback after two other such offences had been ignored. A long ball from Pickford was collected superbly by Calvert-Lewin and smacked on the turn but it flew over the bar.  McNeil went wide and clipped over a beautiful cross to Harrison, his header blocked by Doucoure was there to put the follow-up home.  

Another attack down the left, McNeil's cross saw Docucore attempt a very difficult volley that flew over the Bournemouth goal. But Everton kept surging forward and McNeil was released by a brilliant ball from McNeil but he could only chip it weakly with Neto almost on him and it bobbled harmlessly wide. 

Garner looked to drive forward and the ball squirmed out to Harrison when he was tackled but Harrison's cross was too deep for McNeil wide left. Everton tried to work another opening but the massed Bournemouth defence kept them at bay. Some good play saw Calvert-Lewin and Garner get forward with Doucoure launching the ball high over the Gwladys Street goal. 

Another fluid Everton attack saw Calvert-Lewin go over a little too easily but from the corner, Onana had two narrow-angle shots that were kept out. Garner then had a sharp shot that Neto just about held. At the other end, Tarkowski had to surrender a corner. A headed attempt by The Cherries were cleared off the line, the second by McNeil who chased Doucoure upfield and lashed a shot at Neto.

Pickford had to stand firm to save a close-range header from Moore as Calvert-Lewin came off for Beto. Some good play almost saw Beto set up by Patterson. Beto was then very strong to win a free-kick but nothing came from it.  

Bournemouth kept playing up, Brantwaite blocking a shot but Moore fired in a shot that Pickford touched around the post. The corner was well defended as 5 minutes were added. Chermiti and Beto had late chances to add to the score.

Everton:  Pickford, Young [Y:11'], Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, McNeil, Harrison (78' Patterson), Gana Onana, Garner, Doucoure (90+1' Chermiti), Calvert-Lewin (84' Beto).

Subs: Virginia, Keane, Danjuma, Godfrey, Dobbin.

Bournemouth Neto; Tavernier, Zabarnyi, Sensei, Kerkez (66' Brooks); Christie (46' Rothwell), Cook (66' Moore), Smith (86' Aarons), Billing, Ouattara (57' Sinisterra); Solanke [Y:58'].

Subs not Used: Radu, Traore, Kluivert, Semenyo.

Attendance: 38,818

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