Match Report

Everton looked to have salvaged an unlikely point against a poor Bournemouth side when Beto profited from a goalkeeping bungle to grab a late equaliser, only for Seamus Coleman to score a calamitous own goal in stoppage time.

Despite having had three weeks off to recharge and reset for the final 10 games of the season, the Toffees had been largely inept during a scrappy encounter at Vitality Stadium and fell behind to Dominic Solanke's 64th-minute header.

That appeared to be that, with Sean Dyche's men looking bereft of quality and ideas, but when the Cherries' goalkeeper dropped a fairly routine cross, Beto was there to give Everton a much-needed boost.

However, the collective failure of three players to deal with a cross ended with the skipper chesting the ball into his own net – a stomach-churning illustration of the calamity the team has become under Dyche's failing tenure.

The manager mostly stuck with the same personnel as before the recent hiatus but opted for Dominic Calvert-Lewin up front from the start this time and deployed Ben Godfrey at left-back in place of Vitalii Mykolenko who had flu.

Coleman made only his third start of the season on the other side of defence and found himself busy in the early going as Bournemouth started on the front foot.

Antoine Semenyo stung Jordan Pickford's palms with a drive inside three minutes and Lewis Cook blazed the rebound over while, shortly afterwards, Justin Kluivert tried to flick home a near-post delivery from a corner but the Blues' keeper was there again to block it.

Everton's first chance fell to Calvert-Lewin from Abdoulaye Doucouré's lay-off and the striker ignored Jack Harrison to his right before seeing a shot deflect heavily and loop over the crossbar.

And after the visitors got lucky at one end when James Tarkowski's header hit Semenyo in the six-yard box and rebounded over Pickford's bar, Neto was called into action at the other to deny Calvert-Lewin following Everton's best chance of the first half.

A deep Pickford free-kick came off Tarkowski's heel and fell invitingly for DCL but his placed, side-foot shot was palmed behind by the keeper.

Dwight McNeil dragged a decent opportunity to test Neto from 20-odd yards wide while Jarrad Branthwaite came close to conceding a penalty when Tyler Adams threatened to wriggle free of him in the box but the incident ended with Cook's shot being charged down at the back post.

What had, in many respects, been a dreadfully turgid first-half display by Everton was crying out for a change either in approach or personnel at the break but Dyche sent his team out for the second period unchanged.

Once again, it was Bournemouth who carried the early threat as Marcus Tavernier forced another diving save from Pickford with a low effort but there should have been a higher-profile check for a spot-kick at the other end a few minutes later.

Calvert-Lewin appeared to be clipped in the same way that Alejandro Garnacho was by Tarkowski at Old Trafford three weeks ago but the striker barely appealed for a penalty, referee Sam Barrott gave nothing and if VAR Michael Oliver gave it more than a cursory glance, it was not communicated inside the stadium.

It was almost rendered academic three minutes later when Everton, displaying a rare moment of invention from a set-piece, executed a one-two short-corner routine between McNeil and Harrison, with the latter striking the post with a shot from the angle that almost ricocheted in off Chris Mepham.

Just past the hour mark, Tavernier lashed a good chance wide of goal before Lloyd Kelly was introduced and, two minutes later, had supplied Solanke with the opener. 

The substitute hooked a dangerous cross into Everton's six-yard box where Solanke stole in between Tarkowski and Godfrey to easily power home a barely challenged header.

Dyche eventually withdrew the disappointing Doucouré and Harrison for Andre Gomes and Ashley Young and, a few minutes later, took off Amadou Onana in favour of Beto but it initially looked more likely that the Cherries would extend their lead than the hapless Toffees get back into the contest.

Solanke almost benefited from a half-hearted punch by Pickford but, thankfully, the ball bounced off him and dropped past the post.

Then, with three minutes left of the 90 came what should have been Everton's salvation when McNeil sent in a deep cross, Neto climbed above Beto to claim but spilled the ball and the Portuguese had the simple task of knockin the loose ball home.

Six minutes of stoppage time seemed to give the Blues ample time to try and fashion a winner but they saw a precious point evaporate in horrible fashion before they could even try.

Godfrey failed to stop a cross from the Bournemouth right, Pickford and Jarrad Branthwaite hesitated as it bounced a couple of yards in front of him and into the unfortunate Coleman whose apparent attempt to chest it back into the path of his keeper ended up in the back of his own net.

The blunt truth is that this was an unacceptably poor performance by a team that has lost its way under Dyche who has now equalled Mike Walker's club-record run of 12 games without a League victory.

The "Silver Fox" won his next one but was righlty sacked anyway and it's hard to escape the feeling that were there any leadership at the helm of Farhad Moshiri's chaotic regime or any money to pay the compensation required, Dyche would be nervously awaiting a phone call this evening.

He once quipped as Burnley boss that Frank Lampard's Everton had forgotten how to win but, under his stewardship, the current group of players look utterly bereft of how to coherently get up the ball up the pitch to create chances, let alone score enough goals to win games.

On this evidence, a trip to Newcastle on Tuesday evening offers almost nothing to engender optimism that Dyche won't break Walker's abysmal record, that Everton can get anything out of the game or that this club is doing anything other than sleepwalking into another desperate last-day bid to avoid relegation.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

What an utterly dismal display from Everton, underlined by a ludicrous winning goal for the home side that Seamus Coleman chested bizarrely into his own net after Beto had seemingly salvaged an unlikely point.

Sean Dyche had Dele Alli, Lewis Dobbin and Arnaut Danjuma ruled out due to injury and lack of fitness, with Mykolenko also missing this one due to illness.

Coleman started with Calvert-Lewin up front in place of Mykolenko and Beto, respectively, the Ukranian coming down with flu. Gomes and Gana on the bench with Lewis Warrington promoted from the Under-21s.

Bright spring sunshine and a cloudless sky on the south coast with Blues playing in their silver-grey strip as the home side got things underway.  Everton benefitted from a poor clearance but Calvert-Lewin was offside when the ball was played to him.

Onana forced a turnover and released Godfrey but he turned tail and McNeil's deep cross was too far away from goal to threaten, with The Cherries mounting their first attack. Semenyo forced one of those horrible parries from Pickford straight to Cook who wellied it over. 

The home side won the first corner and almost snuck it in at the near post, Pickford blocking it with his body. Everton tried to build but it was ponderous and they were almost caught on the turnover. Tarkowski committed a foul, Kluivert smacking it into the Everton wall. Everton drove forward but Doucoure stumbled on the ball and any momentum was lost. 

Doucoure got the ball in to Calvert-Lewin and he was able to turn and shoot but it was deflected behind for a corner that Calvert-Lewin won at the far post but could do nothing with it. A couple more Everton corners didn't really threaten.

A midfield free-kick was completely wasted when sent backwards to Pickford and punted up to Neto. But a better cross in won another corner that came to Calvert-Lewin in a poor position at the far side of the area and he could do nothing with it. 

Everton worked the ball forward slowly until it was clipped forward to Calvert-Lewin in the channel and he could not bring the ball down. The Cherries got forward and won a couple of corners that led to nothing.

Calvert-Lewin timed his run wrong again for a Garner forward pass.  Coleman did well to resist a challenge by two players but Doucoure committed a foul. McNeil had to dribble backwards into his own area and have Pickford clear. Godfrey did well to halt Semenyo. 

Branthwaite was a little too casual with a couple of needless turnovers but got away with it. Onana was dragged down by Solanke, requiring treatment to his shoulder. 

A Pickford free-kick was headed on by Calvert-Lewin and played back to him for a decent strike on target but Neto pushed it behind, with the ensuing corner out of play beyond the far post. Calvert-Lewin won a throw-in but it was played straight out over the goal-line. 

A Neto clearance was picked up but McNeil's sidefoot strike was well off target. Another free-kick not used very well — just lumped forward for Doucoure to try and do something with it.

Doucoure, ball-chasing, bundled Adams over for an unnecessary free-kick that was sent sailing past Pickford's far post. If you wanted to watch a game of the lowest quality in the Premier League, that's what this was turning into: 40 minutes of mind-numbing dross.

Doucoure was fouled (not given) and then Onana came in strongly and he was booked. Cook's free-kick was thankfully awful. but there was some manhandling by Branthwaite on Adams that could have been punished and  Bournemouth hit the post before they won a corner and caused some serious havoc until Everton were able to clear.  

Harrison went in strongly but also got away with it but there was another foul, a home free-kick and a scrappy corner won, Everton just about clearing it before Mepham fouled.  It had become very scrappy in the last 5 minutes before the break, which came as a welcome if temporary respite from the utter mundanity on display. 

Everton got forward from the restart but put the ball harmlessly behind. An Everton free-kick in midfield, hoofed forward too far by Pickford. No sign of anything improving. Harrison and Douccore looked to break but neither wanted to take any responsibility with the ball and what should have become a brilliant chance…  didn't.

Bournemouth got the ball forward and it needed a few blocks before Pickford saved Tavenier's shot well, parrying it away. At the other end, Tavenier fouled Tarkowski setting up a great opportunity for Garner to put in a decent ball just sailed harmlessly behind. Absolutely shocking lack of quality.  

Solanke looked to run with the ball and Coleman covered very well to stop him shooting.  Bournemouth attack was broken up and the ball found Calvert-Lewin but he doubled-back, wanting support. Adams caught Calvert-Lewin's ankle and he went down for an obvious penalty... that wasn't even appealed by the Everton players or considered by the referee or the VAR!!!

Bournemouth won a corner and it looked like Semenyo could pivot and strike but he hit it into the ground, a lucky escape for the Blues. A pretty decent cross came in but Calvert-Lewin was two steps behind it as Everton won a corner and McNeil seemed to work the ball in well but hit the post and off a Bouremnouth player and behind. 

Garner, McNeil and Calvert-Lewin tried some tippy-tappy movement into the home penalty area but Calvert-Lewin had just ventured offside again. Another moment of massive danger in the Everton area as the ball fell for Tavenier but he drove it wide. 

Another slow Evertpmn attack broke down and the Cherries drove forward for the sub who had just come on, Kelly to swing in a perfect cross for Solanke to head home from 3 yards out with Pickford stuck on his line making no attempt to come out and punch the cross away. Shocking. 

Everton tried to build but Doucoure could only put the ball meaninglessly into vacant space and out for a goalkick. Branthwaite went down in some pain, to add to Everton woes. 

Semenyo looked to punish Everton more on the break but his cross went harmlessly across goal. At the other end, an Onana shot goes all the way to the corner flag. Time for a Dyche masterstroke: bring on the Old Guard, Gomes and Young for Doucoure and Harrison.

Everton won a corner but could create nothing from it. Tarkowski had to floor Solanke for a yellow card to stop him breaking away. But Bournemouth looked brighter for their subs, and were giving Everton more of a workout at the wrong end of the pitch. 

Beto came on for Onana but Everton were still struggling for even a spark of creativity from set-pieces which were invariably wasted. A ball forward to Calvert-Lewin was completely misjudged and again, just drifted out behind. 

A better move led by Beto was headed behind for a corner but it fell to a Bournemoth player. Hwever, Everton were able to recycle until Beto headed it weakly to Neto instead of Calvert-Lewin. Young ended up tripping.

At the other end, Solanke almost got a second off what looked to be a poor error by Pickford and he was very lucky to survive it. A ball came over and Beto looked to have fouled Neto, but he had dropped the ball and it was an n easy finish from the big man. Err... Game On! 

Bournemouth came close with a series of good crosses that won corners which needed some serious defending. Kelly pushed Tarkowski in the chest but the officials let it go. 

From nothing, a bizarre Bournemouth cross in to no-one from a throw-in was chested into the Everton goal by who else but Captain Fantastic, Seamus Coleman. Utterly astounding! 

The game became end to end to the last few minutes of added time with Everton's utter misery. They huffed and puffed a little more but Bournemouth defended the last remnants of attack in a sorry, sorry display from the utterly hapless Blues. 

Bournemouth: Neto, Smith, Mepham, Zabarnyi, Kerkez (63' Kelly), Adams, Cook, Semenyo, Kluivert (73' Ouattara), Tavernier (73' Billing), Solanke [Y:30'] (84' Unal). 

Subs: Faivre, Scott, Hill, Aarons, Travers.

Everton:  Pickford, Coleman, Tarkowski [Y:76'], Branthwaite, Godfrey, Onana [Y:42'] (79' Beto), Garner, Doucoure (72' Gomes), Harrison (72' Young), McNeil, Calvert-Lewin.

Subs:  Virginia, Patterson, Keane, Gana, Chermiti, Warrington.

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Updated Everton's season resumes on Saturday following a long three-week break as Sean Dyche bids to avoid tying Mike Walker's unenviable record of 12 matches without registering a victory in the Premier League era.

The Toffees still haven't won a League game since 16 December but travel to Bournemouth with a mostly fit squad with only Dele Alli, Lewis Dobbin and Arnaut Danjuma likely to be ruled out completely due to injury and lack of fitness.

There are question marks over whether André Gomes has been able to use the three-week break from action to get back to full fitness (although he was pictured in training this week) and while Danjuma also rejoined the squad this week having recovered from the ankle injury he sustained at Fulham two months ago, his manager admitted during his pre-match press conference that the Dutch winger won't be ready for the trip to Vitality Stadium.

Idrissa Gueye’s readiness will be assessed following his return from international duty with Senegal. The midfielder missed the last two of Everton’s games because of a groin problem but travelled over the break for his country’s games against Gabon and Benin and is expected to be available.

Unfortunately, however, Dobbin has been added to the injury list after what is being described as a freak accident in training at Finch Farm before the international break. There were fears that he could require surgery but the damage to his ankle ligaments has since settled down. The need for full recovery still means he will be unavailable for a number of matches with no timeframe yet established for his return.  

There is no date set for Dele’s return from successive surgeries on his quadricep either but Dyche could at least have some options when it comes to selection at right-back seeing as Seamus Coleman came through two friendlies with the Republic of Ireland over the last week.

That part of the pitch has been an issue in recent weeks where Ben Godfrey has performed adequately but his lack of attacking prowess has robbed Everton of potency down that flank. Patterson has struggled to convince Dyche that he can hold down a first-team place which leaves the two veterans Coleman and Ashley Young as potential alternatives.

Whether Coleman can play a third game in such a short space of time remains to be seen so it could be that Young gets the nod there if the manager is apt to make a change in that part of the team.

Up front, it's the case again of choosing between Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin with, perhaps, their respective looks in training over the past three weeks tipping the balance while at right midfield, Jack Harrison has been off form and has opened up the possibility that James Garner could be moved over if Gueye and Amadou Onana are paired together in the middle.

The Cherries, who have had to come back from 2-0 and 3-0 down in their last two home games against Sheffield United and Luton Town respectively, will be without Ryan Fredericks, Marcos Senesi, James Hill and Luis Sinisterra because of injury.

While susceptible at the back, they have attacking threats in the form of Dominic Solanke and Antoine Semenyo, as well as, perhaps, a psychological edge given that they beat the Blues twice at Dean Court last season by an aggregate score of 7-1.

Dyche will, no doubt, be demanding that the players banish the memory of those horror shows under his predecessor prior to the break for the 2022 World Cup and try to recapture the form away from home that won them their last three points way back against Burnley.

Kick-off: 3 pm, Saturday 30 March 2024
Referee: Sam Barrott
VAR: Michael Oliver
Last time: Bournemouth 3-0 Everton 

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Onana, Garner, Harrison, McNeil, Doucouré, Calvert-Lewin 

Lyndon Lloyd

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