Everton vs Bournemouth. Premier League.
Goodison ParkAttendance38,815.
Report and highlights as Everton ease past Bournemouth with first-half goals from James Garner and Jack Harrison before Abdoulaye Doucoure sealed the win after the break; Bournemouth stay in the relegation zone and are without a victory in the league after eight games
Saturday 7 October 2023 19:14, UK
Everton claimed their first home win of the Premier League season as they comfortably beat winless Bournemouth 3-0 at Goodison Park.
Sean Dyche's side had not scored twice at home for 17 games before first-half goals from James Garner and Jack Harrison put an end to that unwanted run. Abdoulaye Doucoure then sealed the win in the second half to ensure Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola stays without a victory in the league after eight games.
Bournemouth's only chance of note was a second-half header from Illia Zabarnyi cleared off the line by Dwight McNeil. Everton, who kept their first clean sheet of the season, could have added more goals as they dominated a Bournemouth side now on a three-game losing run in the league.
Everton move three points clear of the relegation zone with their second win of the league season. Bournemouth, though, remain second-bottom ahead of a reunion with former manager Gary O'Neil after the international break when they play Wolves at home.
Everton boss Dyche said he was fighting a culture of "alrightness" ahead of this game - however, it was anything but at Goodison. Garner set the tone with his calm finish inside 10 minutes as the hosts capitalised on an error from Zabarnyi, losing possession in his own half after a slip.
Goodison Park was unhappy when an Everton break was stopped in its tracks for a soft foul on Marcos Senesi. The hosts had a numerical advantage as they descended on the Bournemouth goal but referee David Coote felt the challenge from Dominic Calvert-Lewin was over the top.
Bournemouth, who had more first-half possession, grew into the game but failed to carve out a clear opening. Everton then made them pay as Harrison's first-time effort clipped the bar to double their lead with Neto off his line after attempting to punch clear.
Everton, who had not scored two goals at home since October 2022, could have gone in at the break 3-0 up but a much-improved Calvert-Lewin saw his header hit the bar. Doucoure also had a chance in the box moments later but fired wide on the turn.
Doucoure made no mistake on the hour as he smashed home from close range on the rebound. Bournemouth felt there was a foul by Amadou Onana, a late addition to the starting line-up in place of Idrissa Gueye, in the build-up but a VAR check did not deem it worthy of chalking off the goal.
Everton failed to turn their comfortable win into a thrashing as Doucoure miscued a volley soon after scoring Everton's third. Neto also produced a smart save to keep out an effort from the midfielder, who was playing in behind the impressive Calvert-Lewin.
Bournemouth's only moment of threat came with less than 15 minutes to go. Zabarnyi's header was blocked on the line by McNeil with Jordan Pickford desperate to keep his first clean sheet of the campaign. The Everton goalkeeper was largely untroubled until the closing stages, with Marcus Tavernier seeing an effort turned around the post.
The pressure is on Bournemouth boss Iraola - the successor to O'Neil, who masterminded the club's escape from relegation last season - after the defeat confirmed Bournemouth's worst start to a top-flight campaign after eight games. Everton, meanwhile, hit form at the right time ahead of the Merseyside derby against Liverpool.
Everton boss Sean Dyche: "Very pleased with the win. It is right to mention the stats because I have been harping on that there is a delivery of performance that will bring wins and it did today.
"Another game with 25 efforts on goal - we want the team to be productive, forward-thinking, creating chances and scoring goals. No disrespect to anyone out there but I felt we had the chances to score more."
He added: "[The result] reinforces the work the players are putting in.
"It is three wins out of four now - one is a cup game but when you're losing they mention those cups games don't they? So it is fair to mention them when you are winning. Three wins out of four is not easy at any level. It just shows they are getting their rewards for the effort they are putting in."
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola said: "Until we are more solid defensively we will make those mistakes and it will be tough to win games. We knew that whoever scored first would be a big advantage.
"Mistakes are pretty obvious, it's not the first time that's happened this season and it's costing us points, games. We have to accept there is a moment when you have to take responsibility. We are a team but they are costing us points.
"We knew it would be a huge game, very important for us, it changed the situation a lot from winning or losing this game. We made the mistakes and they didn't.
"Concentration is something we have to work on in training. You have to focus for 100 minutes and not make these mistakes.
"The same as today, when you're in relegation spots you want to take the points. We had chances today but we didn't take it. We needed to be concentrated and we were not. We needed to be solid at the back and we weren't.
"We have to find the way and turn this around."
Everton face Liverpool at Anfield in the Merseyside derby after the international break on Saturday October 21; kick-off 12.30pm.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, host Wolves on Saturday October 21; kick-off 3pm, facing their former manager Gary O'Neil for the first time following his sacking over the summer.
