Everton went into this game knowing a win would take them to the lofty ideals of third in the table; ideal recognition for a strong start to the season and promise of some wondrous stuff ahead. However, after 90 minutes; it all went south as the same problems seemed to rear its head again; with Everton succumbing to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
The match had in fact started strong for the visitors; looking like a team meaning business after a delightful 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers before the international break. Richarlison was looking in the mood; with Fabian Delph controlling the game again after his previous Man Of The Match (MOTM) display.
However, kind of against the run of play; Bournemouth took the lead as Everton's serial failure to deal with set-pieces reared its ugly head again. Diego Rico's corner on the right is flicked on well by Dominic Solanke; for Joshua King to turn back across goal for both Callum Wilson & Nathan Ake to head home; with the former getting the decisive touch. It was poor defending from the visitors all-round; as they afforded too much time & space for the Bournemouth players to operate all-round.
Everton were still in this at this point; and their hard endeavour payed off through the creation of a fine equaliser. Captain Seamus Coleman, impressive in his patrolling of the right flank, advanced and played a nice through ball for Richarlison; who found space to float in an inviting cross for centre-forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin to head majestically home over Steve Cook. Everton were now well & truly in it; and in fact as the second half went on; it was they who looked in the momentum to go on and claim the three points.
However, in the 67th minute; disaster struck as impressive substitute Ryan Fraser's free-kick was inexplicably turned into his own goal by Delph; who went with his pre-dominant left-foot for the clearance when surely the right was better-placed. The home team were now back in front; and Everton were left seemingly gasping for clutches. Bad turned to worse five minutes later; when another seemingly-innocuous Rico through-ball caught the Everton back-line all at sea; with that man Callum Wilson again free with all the time & space to prod his shot past a despairing Jordan Pickford.
Lewis Cook had a good game for Bournemouth; proving a real engine-room in the middle of the park; while Joshua King on the left-wing was exceptional, running down both channels to offer real quality for his side. But big credit also to their young goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale: at only 21 years of age and fresh off the boat; he played magnificently, making great saves at the feet of Calvert-Lewin & from an un-erring drive from Alex Iwobi; and proving reliable and steady throughout the contest.
Overall, I'm still pretty happy with Everton's performance so far this season; but it looks like a few areas need to be addressed: their seeming psychological defeatist attitude away from home; a lack of creativity up-front & propensity to create chances; and their long-running inability to deal defensively with set-pieces (as proven again twice today). Let's see how it all pans out...
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