Jack Grealish scored the only goal as Everton earned a 1-0 victory at Bournemouth
Jack Grealish celebrates his winning goal(Image: Getty Images)
Everton bounced back from their 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle United on Saturday with a first-ever Premier League win at Bournemouth. Jack Grealish’s 78th minute strike gave the Blues a deserved three points at the Vitality Stadium, when, having been fed by Charly Alcaraz, his right-foot shot beat Dorde Petrovic via a deflection from Bafode Diakite.
Despite being without Michael Keane through injury, who had started every previous fixture all season, an absence that prompted Jake O’Brien to switch to centre-back and James Garner to right-back, David Moyes’ men were impressive throughout and produced a measured display to end their Dorset hoodoo.
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Jordan Pickford 7
Made a smart save to deny Antoine Semenyo and looked alert through and although Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupl had the ball in his net against the run of play on the stroke of half-time, he was offside.
James Garner 7
Helping out his team again by reverting to right-back, even though that meant he was sorely missed in the engine room, he still provided a string of quality deliveries and emerged from an accidental clash of heads with team-mate James Tarkowski and could even afford a smile when he fired a shot out of the ground late in the first half.
Vitalii Mykolenko 7
Tidy showing, he looked solid at the back while venturing forwards on occasions and kept his shape well.
James Tarkowski 8
Looked more like his old, robust self despite being without this season’s usual centre-back partner Michael Keane who was out through injury, yet produced a measured display.
Jake O’Brien 9
Aerially dominant as well as assured on the ball, having been moved into the centre of defence, on the left-hand side, the Republic of Ireland international slotted in comfortably and made several clever interceptions.
Tim Iroegbunam 7
Did well to walk the disciplinary tightrope of being on the yellow card – that will see him suspended for Saturday’s game with Nottingham Forest – following a crude challenge on Antoine Semenyo for three quarters of the game, his general play was much improved from Saturday as he showed for the ball and tracked back well.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 8
Two goals in his previous two games but deeper tonight, he was still a creative force going forwards, driving well from deep and playing clever passes.
Iliman Ndiaye 7
Quiet again for his own stellar standards, he continues to work hard and is always a threat, as shown by his late shot that brought the best out of Petrovic.
Charly Alcaraz 7
Recalled in the number 10 role, he’s carried the ball well at times and while some of his ambitious passes didn’t come off, his final act was to pick out Grealish to provide the assist for his goal.
Jack Grealish 8
A moment of great vision to break the deadlock – albeit with his shot going in off Bafode Diakite’s deflection – he deserved his goal having been a constant threat down the left, with Bournemouth repeatedly having to foul him in a running battle with Alex Jimenez.
Thierno Barry 6
Had a couple of inviting second half opportunities that he fired off target, while he’s continuing his learning curve of leading the line as a Premier League lone striker, as David Moyes says, he needs to score.
Substitutes
Beto (on 79 for Barry)
Brought new energy in attack as Everton held on to their lead.
Dwight McNeil (on 79 for Alcaraz)
Ditto behind him.
