James McCarthy for me
Match Report courtesy of @Prevenger17
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The vast majority of Bournemouth's Premier League goals have come in the first 30 minutes, and the early exchanges showed why. Goodison old boy Gosling missed wide, and Ritchie shot straight at Howard, luckily the one place Howard can save it. A nervy moment for Everton followed, as King fired another low drive at Howard, our gloved champion parrying it low for Stones to clear.
Deulofeu, facing several charges of buggering full-backs these last few weeks, looked to be having a quiet afternoon, his usual tricks being snuffed out by an alert Bournemouth defence. Everton's first chance fell to Kone, who capitalized on some confusion around the Bournemouth penalty area to shoot low at Federici. Lukaku's header forced Federici into another save from the resulting corner. Kone winning the ball in midfield triggered a great spell of Everton pressure, climaxing in a McCarthy shot that was too close to the Bournemouth keeper.
And then the breakthrough. Funes Mori leapt high, obliterating our rather telling record of not scoring from a setpiece this season. Scenes. Everton pressed the advantage, as Bournemouth somewhat faded from the game for the remainder of the first half, with the exception of Stanislas.
Deulofeu took a couple of seconds off from being unusually crap to swing a trademark laser-precision pass into the path of Lukaku, who duly drove it into the back of the Bournemouth net to cap off an easy night.
God, I wish the report ended here.
Allsop came on in the second half for Federici. It was a surprise the Bournemouth keeper had lasted for the whole first half, as it looked for all intents and purposes like he turned his ankle into two ankles. Bournemouth's King served early notice that this half wasn't over, as he beat Galloway and fizzed a low ball into the box that would have been dangerous had any Bournemouth player been near it. Lukaku couldn't get on the end of a great Coleman cross, in between two great chances at the other end for Daniels and Stanislas respectively.
Many will feel that the turning point came on 67 minutes. McCarthy came off injured, to be replaced by a repaired Tom Cleverley. Bournemouth seized the initiative, and played us off the park for the rest of the game. King put another fast, low ball across the box which was cleared out by Coleman. Bournemouth's resulting corner was a contender for Worst of The Year (stiff competition from some of Barkley's efforts this season), but the ball somehow bounced out to an unmarked Daniels, who fired a completely unsaveable netbound missile which some people will still find a way of pinning on Howard. Game very much on.
Bournemouth had a dubious penalty appeal turned down, which only seemed to fire them up even more. They continued to press high as Everton struggled to get any meaningful possession. An exhausted Deulofeu made way for Aaron Lennon for the last ten minutes but the game had already turned. A quick free kick by Bournemouth blindsided Everton as King, who had been giving Galloway a very hard time, put a ball into the path of a hungry Stanislas. The net bulged as we were emphatically reminded that we support Everton.
But wait! Everton, quickly realizing that they had been in a football match all this time, started to string a few passes together, resulting in a sudden death winner by Barkley, who poked past Allsop from close range. 3-2 to Everton. What a night and what a result.
God, I wish the report ended here.
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Match Report courtesy of @Prevenger17
*************
The vast majority of Bournemouth's Premier League goals have come in the first 30 minutes, and the early exchanges showed why. Goodison old boy Gosling missed wide, and Ritchie shot straight at Howard, luckily the one place Howard can save it. A nervy moment for Everton followed, as King fired another low drive at Howard, our gloved champion parrying it low for Stones to clear.
Deulofeu, facing several charges of buggering full-backs these last few weeks, looked to be having a quiet afternoon, his usual tricks being snuffed out by an alert Bournemouth defence. Everton's first chance fell to Kone, who capitalized on some confusion around the Bournemouth penalty area to shoot low at Federici. Lukaku's header forced Federici into another save from the resulting corner. Kone winning the ball in midfield triggered a great spell of Everton pressure, climaxing in a McCarthy shot that was too close to the Bournemouth keeper.
And then the breakthrough. Funes Mori leapt high, obliterating our rather telling record of not scoring from a setpiece this season. Scenes. Everton pressed the advantage, as Bournemouth somewhat faded from the game for the remainder of the first half, with the exception of Stanislas.
Deulofeu took a couple of seconds off from being unusually crap to swing a trademark laser-precision pass into the path of Lukaku, who duly drove it into the back of the Bournemouth net to cap off an easy night.
God, I wish the report ended here.
Allsop came on in the second half for Federici. It was a surprise the Bournemouth keeper had lasted for the whole first half, as it looked for all intents and purposes like he turned his ankle into two ankles. Bournemouth's King served early notice that this half wasn't over, as he beat Galloway and fizzed a low ball into the box that would have been dangerous had any Bournemouth player been near it. Lukaku couldn't get on the end of a great Coleman cross, in between two great chances at the other end for Daniels and Stanislas respectively.
Many will feel that the turning point came on 67 minutes. McCarthy came off injured, to be replaced by a repaired Tom Cleverley. Bournemouth seized the initiative, and played us off the park for the rest of the game. King put another fast, low ball across the box which was cleared out by Coleman. Bournemouth's resulting corner was a contender for Worst of The Year (stiff competition from some of Barkley's efforts this season), but the ball somehow bounced out to an unmarked Daniels, who fired a completely unsaveable netbound missile which some people will still find a way of pinning on Howard. Game very much on.
Bournemouth had a dubious penalty appeal turned down, which only seemed to fire them up even more. They continued to press high as Everton struggled to get any meaningful possession. An exhausted Deulofeu made way for Aaron Lennon for the last ten minutes but the game had already turned. A quick free kick by Bournemouth blindsided Everton as King, who had been giving Galloway a very hard time, put a ball into the path of a hungry Stanislas. The net bulged as we were emphatically reminded that we support Everton.
But wait! Everton, quickly realizing that they had been in a football match all this time, started to string a few passes together, resulting in a sudden death winner by Barkley, who poked past Allsop from close range. 3-2 to Everton. What a night and what a result.
God, I wish the report ended here.
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