Bournemouth 2-2 Everton: Cherries fight back to draw

Joshua KingImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Joshua King initiated Bournemouth's comeback with a penalty after Leighton Baines had fouled Callum Wilson.

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe praised the "mental strength" of his team as they recovered from two goals behind to draw against Everton and move into the Premier League's top four.

In a compelling contest, in which both sides were reduced to 10 men, goals from Theo Walcott and Michael Keane - who was later taken to hospital following a stoppage-time collision with team-mate Idrissa Gueye - had put the visitors in charge.

However, the Cherries underlined their reputation as escapologists with Joshua King driving home a penalty and Nathan Ake tapping in an equaliser four minutes later.

Howe's team have now amassed 25 points from losing positions since the beginning of last season, more than any other Premier League club.

"We're delighted to achieve it because - at 2-0 down and 10 v 10 - it looked very difficult from the mental perspective of how the game had gone for us," Howe said.

"The players went again and once we got the goal to go 2-1, the whole game changed, the momentum of the game changed, and we were the stronger team at the end. Our frustration is that we allowed ourselves to get in that position."

Walcott had raced clear to deliver the opening goal for Marco Silva's team with an angled drive, having already seen Richarlison sent off for an attempted headbutt on Adam Smith.

Keane then doubled their advantage, heading in from a corner, five minutes after Smith was dismissed for pulling Walcott back as he advanced on goal.

But King's penalty, awarded for a foul by Leighton Baines on Callum Wilson, kick-started the comeback.

And Bournemouth maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign when Ake followed up Wilson's header to prod in from close range.

Everton also remain unbeaten, but Silva stressed that Keane, who was treated on the pitch for several minutes before being carried off, was "first and most important" in his thoughts.

Cherries and Wilson show resolve

The Cherries were aiming for their third consecutive victory at the start of a season for the first time since 2009 - when they were in League Two.

They had only achieved that feat six times in their history and never in the top two tiers of English football.

But while victories against Cardiff and West Ham were underpinned by fluent football, this draw was a show of resolve.

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Howe praises Bournemouth 'character' after comeback

Having surrendered the advantage of an extra player and fallen two goals behind, Howe's team found the resilience to respond after being wasteful in front of goal.

Wilson, who scored in Bournemouth's opening two fixtures, epitomised their showing.

Twice the 26-year-old missed excellent chances - firing a first-half effort over and delaying his shot to allow Jordan Pickford to save in the second period. However, he continued to apply himself.

Only Dan Gosling (12.6km) covered more ground for the hosts and Wilson was rewarded by winning a penalty and then contributing to the equalising goal.

Richarlison dominates headlines again

Everton's summer has been dominated by their purchase of 21-year-old forward Richarlison from Watford, in a deal that could eventually rise to a club record £50m fee.

The Brazilian has hit the ground running on Merseyside, scoring three times in the Blues' opening two fixtures.

But his 41st-minute dismissal meant he was unable to eclipse former Everton forwards Romelu Lukaku (2013-14) and Tony Cottee (1988-89), who both managed four goals in their first three games for the club.

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Everton did fantastic job - Silva

His clash with Smith showed a lack of maturity, and with his sending-off constituting violent conduct, a three-match suspension will rule him out of home league matches against Huddersfield and West Ham, as well as the trip to Arsenal.

"It's something that Richarlison and the other players in our squad cannot do and something I don't like to see," said Silva.

"If you are 18, 19, 20, if you are 33 - you have to keep always your emotional balance there. Keep your mentality as well, if somebody provokes you, or not, if the fans are against you, or not."

Man of the match - Theo Walcott (Everton)

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Theo Walcott scored in consecutive league matches for the first time for Everton and his pace caused Bournemouth problems all afternoon

The stats - Everton top the red-card list

  • Premier League matches between Everton and Bournemouth have seen 4.14 goals on average (29 goals in seven games) - the highest average for a Premier League fixture played on more than six occasions.

  • Since the start of 2017-18 season, Bournemouth have won a league-high 25 points from losing positions in the Premier League.

  • Theo Walcott has scored in consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time as an Everton player and the first time since April 2017 overall.

  • Michael Keane scored his first Premier League goal for Everton, in what was his 33rd appearance in the competition for the Toffees.

  • Joshua King has been directly involved in 38 Premier League goals for Bournemouth (31 goals, seven assists), 14 more than any other player.

  • Lee Probert gave as many red cards in this match alone (2) as he did in his 18 matches as a Premier League referee in 2016-17 and 2017-18 combined.

  • Richarlison's red card was the 91st that Everton have been given in Premier League history - more than any other team in the competition.

  • Bournemouth have seen 10 opposition players sent off against them in the Premier League. Since their first match in the competition in August 2015, only Arsenal and West Ham United (both 11) have seen more red cards for their opponents.

What's next?

Bournemouth face MK Dons in the EFL Cup on Tuesday (19:45 BST) before travelling to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday 1 September (15:00).

Everton host Rotherham in the EFL Cup on Wednesday (19:45) and then welcome Huddersfield to Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday (15:00).

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