Match ends, Everton 2, Bournemouth 1.
EvertonEverton2BournemouthAFC Bournemouth1
Everton substitute Oumar Niasse's two goals to turn defeat into victory against Bournemouth could prove a defining moment in the Toffees' season, says boss Ronald Koeman.
The Blues were trailing to Joshua King's sumptuous low 20-yard finish when Niasse was introduced in the 55th minute in place of Wayne Rooney, who had earlier been denied a penalty after being caught by Simon Francis' elbow.
Niasse hammered the equaliser from a pass by fellow substitute Tom Davies before hooking home the winner from close range at Goodison Park.
Instead of a fourth successive league defeat, Everton are up to 13th in the table after a second league win of the season.
"It is a totally different world after winning," said Koeman. "You have key moments during the season and this was a big win that will give everyone a boost.
"It was a difficult game, we did not create many chances and we took the right decision after 1-0 down to try something different - play two strikers and go more direct.
"More credit to the players - Niasse and Davies. They did a good job after a difficult time."
Rooney was angry with referee Martin Atkinson for not punishing Francis and made his feelings known as he went off for treatment with blood pouring from a facial cut.
Jermain Defoe should have made it 2-0 soon after King's opener but was denied by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford. The Cherries remain 19th in the table - one point from safety.
"It is frustrating from our perspective to come here and put that kind of performance in and not get anything," said Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe.
Reaction from Saturday's Premier League games
Relive the action from Goodison Park
New Everton goal hero?
After going more than six and a half hours without a Premier League goal, Everton scored two in five minutes thanks to Senegal forward Niasse.
The 27-year-old netted four times in the top-flight last season but was unable to save Hull City from relegation having been sent there on loan.
This was his first league appearance for Everton since May 2016, manager Koeman having appeared to have made his mind up on Niasse soon after taking over.
"If he likes to play football, then he needs to leave Everton," said Koeman in August 2016.
Yet Everton's underwhelming start to the season - as well as lack of goals - prompted Koeman to give Niasse a place on the bench and the player endeared himself to Blues fans after replacing a battered and bruised Rooney.
His first goal was a thumping shot which gave Asmir Begovic no chance while his second was a clever finish from close range after the Bournemouth keeper had kept out his initial header.
In the corresponding fixture last season, Romelu Lukaku scored a hat-trick in a crushing 6-3 win. Everton fans have been crying out for a new goalscoring hero since the Belgian's summer move to Manchester United.
Niasse might just be the man.
Rooney in the wars
The main talking point during a dreary first half was Bournemouth skipper Francis' elbow which went unpunished and left Rooney with a bloodied face.
The 31-year-old, making the 400th Premier League start of his career, immediately clutched his face yet Atkinson appeared to miss the incident as the game carried on.
"It is not really with intention but, yes, it is above his eye and it is totally open [the wound]," added Koeman.
"The doctor said to me at half-time if it happened again we would need to change him. I changed him because we needed something different."
Howe was adamant there was no malice in the challenge.
"He's caught Wayne but there is absolutely no intent to injure the player, I can say that for certain," he said.
Not long after the elbow, Rooney was back in the wars as he landed awkwardly after a foul by Adam Smith, prompting his wound to open up and forcing him to leave the pitch for further treatment.
Tough defeat to take
Bournemouth appeared in control once King put them ahead with a delicious finish following Charlie Daniels' weighted pass.
The turning point came moments later when Defoe, with only the keeper to beat, was denied by Pickford after being put clean through.
In the end, Everton's late goals left Howe just as sick as on his last visit to Goodison when his side conceded six times.
Howe had added pace on the wings by handing Junior Stanislas his first league start of the season, while former Liverpool midfielder Jordon Ibe was also recalled.
Yet Bournemouth were made to pay as they once again failed to deliver a clean sheet in the league despite a clearance off the line by Andrew Surman to deny Mason Holgate when the Cherries were leading.
Man of the match - Oumar Niasse (Everton)
Bournemouth can't defend a lead - stats
- Bournemouth have lost 28 points from winning positions in the Premier League since the start of last season - more than any other side in that period.
- Everton ended a run of 401 minutes without a goal in the Premier League.
- Only Crystal Palace (0) have scored fewer first-half goals than Bournemouth in the Premier League this season.
- Charlie Daniels has provided nine Premier League assists overall, more than any other Bournemouth player in the competition.
What's next?
Everton turn their attention to the Europa League when they welcome Apollon Limassol from Cyprus to Goodison on Thursday (20:05 BST), before hosting Burnley in the league on Sunday, 1 October (14:15). Bournemouth have a week to prepare for the visit of Leicester City next Saturday (15:00 BST).
Line-ups
Everton
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Pickford
- 15MartinaSubstituted forKennyat 76'minutes
- 30Holgate
- 5Williams
- 3Baines
- 17Gueye
- 2SchneiderlinBooked at 15mins
- 20KlaassenSubstituted forDaviesat 55'minutesBooked at 56mins
- 10RooneySubstituted forNiasseat 55'minutesBooked at 80mins
- 29Calvert-Lewin
- 18G Sigurdsson
Substitutes
- 9Ramírez
- 19Niasse
- 22Stekelenburg
- 26Davies
- 27Vlasic
- 31Lookman
- 43Kenny
Bournemouth
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 27Begovic
- 15A Smith
- 2Francis
- 5AkéSubstituted forMoussetat 83'minutes
- 11Daniels
- 33Ibe
- 4Gosling
- 6Surman
- 19StanislasBooked at 90mins
- 17KingSubstituted forS Cookat 79'minutes
- 18DefoeSubstituted forAfobeat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 3S Cook
- 7Pugh
- 9Afobe
- 12Ramsdale
- 16L Cook
- 24Fraser
- 31Mousset
- Referee:
- Martin Atkinson
- Attendance:
- 38,133
Match Stats
Home TeamEvertonAway TeamBournemouth
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Everton 2, Bournemouth 1.
Booking
Junior Stanislas (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Corner, Everton. Conceded by Charlie Daniels.
Post update
Jordan Pickford (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Dan Gosling (Bournemouth).
Post update
Foul by Tom Davies (Everton).
Post update
Jordon Ibe (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right. Assisted by Jordan Pickford.
Post update
Offside, Everton. Morgan Schneiderlin tries a through ball, but Oumar Niasse is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) right footed shot from very close range is too high. Assisted by Jonjoe Kenny with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lys Mousset (Bournemouth) header from a difficult angle on the left is just a bit too high. Assisted by Junior Stanislas with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Jonjoe Kenny.
Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Lys Mousset replaces Nathan Aké.
Goal!
Goal! Everton 2, Bournemouth 1. Oumar Niasse (Everton) with an attempt from very close range to the bottom left corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tom Davies (Everton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Booking
Oumar Niasse (Everton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Oumar Niasse (Everton).
Post update
Jordon Ibe (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Bournemouth. Steve Cook replaces Joshua King.
Comments
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2 wins on the bounce with more winnable home games coming up before an away trip to Brighton.
Play with a target man & we will be fine. Especially if we strengthen further in January.
Up the Toffees!
How long will it take for him to drop Klaasen and Rooney and play with the best no 10 we have.As soon as Davies and Niasse came on the whole dynamic of the game changed and that goes for john joe kenny as well.
Tom Davies has to start ahead of the 2 Koeman signings
If Niasse saves our season (fingers crossed), it would be a fairy story and just reward for a player who kept his dignity despite shabby treatment from two managers and short shrift from most Everton fans (yes, me included).
Bet Man City are absolutely made up having you as a fan, poor sods