Everton will soon find out just how costly these continued dropped points will prove. With a verdict into their second charge for financial breaches expected imminently, Séamus Coleman’s late own goal gave Bournemouth the points and meant Sean Dyche’s side have now stretched their run of successive games without a win to an unwanted club record of 12 since they last tasted victory before Christmas.
Add in an uncertain takeover that has dragged on for months and it is no wonder the mood among the club’s supporters is so fraught.
Dyche remains unequivocal about his team’s ability to avoid the drop, insisting: “I believe in the players, without a shadow of a doubt.”
But the manner of this defeat was difficult to stomach after Everton had been gifted the softest of late equalisers which looked like ensuring the spoils would be shared. Neto’s regulation dropped cross with three minutes of normal time remaining meant the substitute Beto was left with the simple task of tapping into an empty net from two yards.
That goal cancelled out Dominic Solanke’s headed opener, but Everton were then sunk by a howler of their own in injury time. Recalled to the starting lineup, Coleman was under no pressure from Adam Smith’s cross when the captain chested it into his own net at the far post.
“For such a simple moment, there is miscommunication and they get a goal out of nothing,” bemoaned Dyche. “Without looking an amazing threat ourselves, we found a goal and we should go away with a point. I don’t think we’re a million miles away from performances but we can’t make errors like that.”
For all that Bournemouth were the dominant force throughout, Everton had not gone without chances. Luckless Dominic Calvert-Lewin was recalled to lead the line but wore the pained expression of a man unable to get a stain out of his favourite white shirt as he went through his 23rd game without scoring.
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The some-time England striker forced Neto into a fine low save soon after the half-hour and had a decent penalty appeal waved away when the game was still goalless, going down under a challenge from Tyler Adams. Replays showed the American’s foot had indeed touched his shin, but the referee deemed it insufficient for a penalty and the VAR did not intervene, much to Dyche’s anger.
“How we don’t get a penalty, I don’t know,” said the Everton manager. “I think that’s what VAR is meant to do. That is actual contact – a proper kick in the shins. How’s that not given? They’ll give me some weird interpretation, I’m sure.”
The scoreline was also still blank when Dwight McNeil clipped the front post with something between a cross and shot. “We just have to find a way to win,” said the Everton midfielder Jack Harrison. Bournemouth certainly have that knack, triumphing here after coming back from a 3-0 half-time deficit to beat Luton last time out.
Inspired by their two wingers, Marcus Tavernier and Antoine Semenyo, the hosts controlled large swathes of the game, and had come close to taking the lead at the end of a quiet first half. With attention on the referee as Adams appealed for a penalty under Jarrad Branthwaite, Semenyo prodded against the post two minutes before the break.
For a team that came into the match having conceded fewer goals this season than all bar the title-chasing trio of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, Everton made things surprisingly easy for Bournemouth’s opener.
Lloyd Kelly, on the pitch for less than a minute, was afforded all the time in the world to deliver a pinpoint cross on to Solanke’s head a few yards out. His 16th Premier League goal of the season equalled Bournemouth’s club record.
“I don’t really understand why he isn’t in the England squad,” said teammate Adam Smith, of Solanke. “Maybe because he plays for little old Bournemouth. He’s a top player and if he keeps scoring goals like this I am sure he will get in.”
For a long time it looked as though that header would prove the difference between the two sides. Then came the two clangers, which cancelled each other out.
