Bournemouth 2-1 Everton. Everton slumped to a club record 12th consecutive Premier League game without a win as Seamus Coleman’s late own goal handed the points to Bournemouth in an extraordinary finish.
Dominic Solanke’s header looked set to prove the difference for Bournemouth in a game of attrition and little quality.
But the contest burst into life in the final 10 minutes.
The Toffees thought they had would salvage at least a point when Beto took advantage of a goalkeeping error from Neto.
However, long-serving captain Coleman chested a cross into his own net – under no pressure – in injury time.
Everton have not won in the league since 16 December and, sitting in 16th place, they remain three points clear of the relegation zone.
Everton face a nervy end to the season as they aim to preserve their proud record of never being relegated from the Premier League and extend their 70-year stay in the top flight.
Sean Dyche’s team would have a greater cushion from the bottom three if the club had not been docked six points for breaching financial rules.
But their woeful recent run, which has come against the backdrop of uncertainty off the pitch, has left them perilously close to the bottom three.
Their fight to stay up could yet be hit by a further points deduction for a second alleged breach of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
Regardless of what happens in that situation, this was another worrying performance for Dyche’s side and their supporters.
While Everton had plenty of possession, they struggled to regularly break down Bournemouth’s defence until Beto was gifted a goal that the visitors thought would be enough for a point.
However, there was another late twist which rather summed up Everton’s recent misfortune.
With Coleman perhaps expecting goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to gather, the 35-year-old Irishman bundled into his own goal and looked disconsolate as the realisation dawned it was probably too late for Everton to pinch a second equaliser.
“It’s tough for Seamus. He puts his heart and soul into this team and gives everything,” said Toffees winger Jack Harrison.
“It is always a difficult thing, but Seamus is a great captain and great leader. He will bounce back.”
Toffees boss Dyche also bemoaned Dominic Calvert-Lewin not being given a second-half penalty, when the score was 0-0, after being clipped across the shins by Tyler Adams.
“We can’t get on the right side of the referees at the minute and so we have to make sure we take care of ourselves. That’s what we didn’t do in the dying embers of the game,” Dyche said.
source – BBC
