Everton extended Abdoulaye Doucouré’s contract on Wednesday and the midfielder repaid them by extending their residence in the top flight of English football into a 70th year. On a day of exhausting emotion at Goodison Park – “a horrible day”, Sean Dyche admitted – the midfielder struck a superb, critical winner against Bournemouth to ensure Everton avoided a first relegation since 1951.
There was a nerve-racking finish where 10 minutes of added time, an injury to Jordan Pickford’s hand and the determination of Gary O’Neil’s team to prove they were not on the beach made Everton fight to the last for their Premier League status.
