Callum Wilson took advantage of an abysmal defensive performance from Everton to score twice in a 3-1 Premier League home win for Bournemouth on Sunday.
In a tight affair involving two evenly matched teams it was the Toffees’ sticky defending that cost them, firstly allowing Wilson to net (23) after failing to deal with a set-piece. Dominic Calvert-Lewin notched his first goal for 13 games to level it up (44) but a Ryan Fraser free-kick from the left was deflected past Jordan Pickford by Fabian Delph to hand the Cherries the lead (66).
For Everton, hopes of a top-six finish look streets away on this showing as they remain without an away win since March.
How travel-sick Toffees crumbled
Bournemouth had the better of the opening exchanges with Lewis Cook looking in fine fettle despite nine months out with a knee injury.
However, Everton almost landed the first significant blow on 17 minutes but Richarlison’s dipping shot from 25 yards smacked the crossbar.
It was the Cherries that struck first on 23 minutes. Diego Rico’s corner fell to Josh King in acres of space at the back post. King probably should’ve scored himself but his ball across the face was headed home by Wilson.
Richarlison nearly levelled on 37 minutes but nodded wide from a left-wing cross before he turned provider just before the break.
The Brazilian delivered from the right but there was still plenty for Calvert-Lewin to do as he powered above Steve Cook and headed home with great power.
Everton had the ascendancy after half-time with Aaron Ramsdale thwarting Gylfi Sigurdsson with a tidy save – one of four stops over the course of the 90 minutes.
Ryan Fraser was called from the bench by Eddie Howe and he made an impact on 67 minutes to turn the game in Bournemouth’s favour.
From a free-kick down the left, Fraser’s awkward delivery was horribly miscued by Delph with his right foot which took the ball past a helpless Pickford.
Things would get worse for the Everton backline when Bournemouth wrapped up the points as Wilson grabbed his second.
Rico knocked a ball through the heart of the Toffees defence and Wilson was given the freedom of the Vitality Stadium to saunter through and curl the ball over Pickford from the edge of the area.
Man of the match: Callum Wilson
The England striker had just two chances in the match and he took them both, showing brilliantly predatory instincts for the first and huge levels of skill for the second. Both Michael Keane and Yerry Mina had days to forget while Fabian Delph didn’t provide much protection in front – Wilson punished their lacklustre levels. Since the start of last season, only Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling (32) has been directly involved in more Premier League goals amongst Englishmen than Wilson (26 – 17 goals, 9 assists).
“He played really well today,” Graeme Souness said in the Super Sunday studio. “Players don’t like playing against him. He can take you on physically and he’s quick. He’s the real deal.”
