Oumar! Oumar! Oumar! Everton showed good character to come from behind to beat Bournemouth at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon. There was a notable absentee in the form of Michael Keane, who was seen on crutches prior to kick off. Therefore, Holgate was given a start in his natural position of centre back and he played well. There was also returns to the starting line-up for Martina, Klaassen and Rooney.
The Toffee’s started brightly but like most of the season thus far, failed to create much in front of goal. Dominc Calvert-Lewin once again looking a constant threat to the Bournmouth Defence. The bulk of Everton’s attacks were coming down the right flank with Martina, who has had a difficult start to life in blue. But he served as a constant threat on attacks and maybe just needs to work on adding more zip to his final ball in the box. On the 34th minute Rooney was furious with referee Martin Atkinson after he felt he was elbowed in the face by Bournemouth defender Francis, causing a nasty cut which forced him to leave the field for treatment. Atkinson proclaimed he didn’t see the elbow, which comes as no surprise, as Atkinson doesn’t know his own elbow from his arse. Everton lost their way slightly near the end of the half. Half time came, scores 0-0.
Just four minutes into the second half, from seemingly nowhere, disaster struck for Everton. Joshua King marched onto the Everton goal, unopposed and smashed his effort into the bottom of Pickford’s net. 1-0 The Cherries. Very soon after it should have been 2-0. Defoe, who is normally so lethal infront of goal, was put through one on one with Pickford, but Pickford stood his ground well and made an excellent save to keep Everton in the game. The game was getting away from Everton and Koeman rightfully made some quick-fire changes. Davy Klaassen, of who I am desperate to see do well but is just struggling to find his feet, along with Wayne Rooney, made way for Davies and midweek hero Oumar Niasse.
Everton huffed and puffed and eventually got their reward. Who else? A fantastic threaded ball by Davies into the box was met by Niasse whose exquisite first touch set him up perfectly to fire the Toffees level. A run of 401 minutes without a goal in the Premier League was ended. 1-1. There was no time for elaborate celebrations though, Niasse ran into the goal mouth he had just breached to collect the ball and sprint back to the centre circle to push for the winner….. a man after our own hearts indeed.
Just five minutes later the story of the season so far reached fever point. Davies deflected effort looped over to Niasse who, from 3 yards out, nodded the ball goalward. Begovic scooped the effort away, leaving a debate whether it had crossed the line or not but Niasse took no chances and buried the rebound into the net. Cue the first ‘limbs’ celebration of the season. The game was seen out in the remaining 8 minutes plus stoppage time and Everton secured their second Premier League win of the season.
I said after United things could look a lot different this time next week. And it does. Nothing quite like an Everton win to lift your weekend mood. A win on Thursday in the Europa League and we are most certainly back on track and it’s in no short thanks to Mr Oumar Niasse. Everton’s new hero up top.
– David (@DAHughes92)
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