Everton 1-0 Bournemouth: Toffees secure survival on tense final day
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Everton secured the win they required against Bournemouth to ensure Premier League safety on an afternoon of nerve-shredding tension at Goodison Park.
Sean Dyche’s side knew victory would guarantee survival irrespective of events elsewhere, but for a time they were in the drop zone as they struggled to break down Bournemouth and Leicester City were beating West Ham United.
Everton finally ended the deadlock after 57 minutes as Abdoulaye Doucoure sparked an explosion of elation and relief inside an emotionally-charged Goodison Park with a powerful right-foot finish from 20 yards that gave Bournemouth keeper Mark Travers no chance of saving it.
As the tension mounted, Everton survived a couple of Bournemouth near misses and an agonising 10 minutes of stoppage time before they could confirm they would be extending their 69-year stay in English football’s top tier.
Everton escape again
The celebrations among Everton fans at the final whistle were understandable, having been put through the wringer once more in being made to wait until the season’s final game to confirm Premier League safety – they only got over the line in the penultimate match last term.
And it did not take long for loud chants of “sack the board” to sweep around Goodison Park as the fractured relationship between supporters and the club’s hierarchy bubbled to the surface once again.
The brief moment of joy and relief at full-time did not disguise the ill-feeling, with the Everton board having not attended a home game since January, citing safety concerns.
As for the game itself, it was a predictably scrappy affair on an occasion riddled with nerves – frustration mounting as Everton faced the drop with Leicester winning and Bournemouth holding firm.
It took that moment of magic from Doucoure to keep Everton in the top flight, but unless there are serious changes at the top of the club and Dyche can somehow improve a squad that has struggled so badly this season, then there is every chance they will face similar struggles next season.
Bournemouth defy the odds
Bournemouth may have ended the season with a defeat but no-one at Leeds United and Leicester City, the clubs hoping the Cherries would do them a favour, could complain about their levels of commitment and determination to get a result.
It was, in fact, a feisty affair with plenty of physical challenges and a yellow card for Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neil as touchline tensions threatened to boil over.
O’Neil deserves huge credit for the calm and composed manner in which he has succeeded the sacked Scott Parker and ensured safety with something to spare for a club that were regarded as relegation favourites in the early stages of the season.
Bournemouth can congratulate themselves on a job very satisfactorily done as they contemplate another season in the Premier League.
Player of the match
BrooksDavid Brooks
Everton
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Squad number16Player nameDoucouré
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Squad number50Player nameSimms
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Squad number1Player namePickford
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Squad number30Player nameCoady
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Squad number2Player nameTarkowski
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Squad number17Player nameIwobi
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Squad number7Player nameMcNeil
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Squad number11Player nameGray
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Squad number37Player nameGarner
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Squad number8Player nameOnana
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Squad number27Player nameGueye
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Squad number13Player nameMina
AFC Bournemouth
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Squad number7Player nameBrooks
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Squad number29Player nameBilling
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Squad number9Player nameSolanke
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Squad number1Player nameTravers
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Squad number5Player nameKelly
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Squad number8Player nameLerma
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Squad number11Player nameOuattara
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Squad number25Player nameSenesi
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Squad number21Player nameMoore
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Squad number27Player nameZabarnyi
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Squad number15Player nameA Smith
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Squad number18Player nameViña
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Squad number10Player nameChristie
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Squad number32Player nameAnthony
Line-ups
Everton
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1PickfordBooked at 74mins
- 13Mina
- 30Coady
- 2Tarkowski
- 37Garner
- 27Gueye
- 16Doucouré
- 7McNeil
- 8Onana
- 17Iwobi
- 11GraySubstituted forSimmsat 87′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Holgate
- 5Keane
- 15Begovic
- 20Maupay
- 31Lonergan
- 46McAllister
- 50Simms
- 64Welch
Bournemouth
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Travers
- 15A SmithBooked at 70minsSubstituted forAnthonyat 83′minutes
- 27Zabarnyi
- 25SenesiBooked at 68mins
- 5Kelly
- 8Lerma
- 29Billing
- 7BrooksSubstituted forViñaat 56′minutes
- 10ChristieSubstituted forMooreat 65′minutes
- 11Ouattara
- 9SolankeBooked at 70mins
Substitutes
- 3Stephens
- 4L Cook
- 6Mepham
- 12Randolph
- 17Stacey
- 18Viña
- 21Moore
- 32Anthony
- 49Sadi
Live Text
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Match ends, Everton 1, Bournemouth 0.
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Second Half ends, Everton 1, Bournemouth 0.
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Foul by Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth).
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Yerry Mina (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Everton. Conceded by Mark Travers.
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Attempt saved. Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dwight McNeil.
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Jaidon Anthony (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by James Garner (Everton).
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Attempt saved. Matías Viña (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kieffer Moore with a headed pass.
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Philip Billing (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Idrissa Gueye (Everton).
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Offside, Bournemouth. Dango Ouattara tries a through ball, but Dominic Solanke is caught offside.
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Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Amadou Onana (Everton).
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Attempt missed. James Tarkowski (Everton) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Dwight McNeil with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Everton. Conceded by Philip Billing.
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Substitution, Everton. Ellis Simms replaces Demarai Gray because of an injury.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Demarai Gray (Everton).
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Corner, Everton. Conceded by Jaidon Anthony.
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