Everton grind out much-needed win against Bournemouth

Everton lifted themselves back into the top half of the Premier League table with a 2-0 home win over Bournemouth.

A poor run of form had seen pressure mount on Toffees boss Marco Silva, with the visiting Cherries also struggling of late. However, it was Everton who grabbed the victory to return them to winning ways. They’ll hope this will mark the turning of a corner.

Both teams struck the woodwork in a first half that largely saw Bournemouth edge things. However, Everton grew into the game as it progressed and emerged for the second half with renewed vigour and intent.

It took them until the 61st minute to break the deadlock, with Kurt Zouma powering home a header from a Lucas Digne cross. And the win was wrapped up in stoppage time when substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin finished off a counter attacking move, via a slight deflection.

Before today, Everton had gone four games without a win in front of their own fans. They had lost four of their last five Premier League fixtures. Question have been asked of Silva in recent weeks. Anything less than a win here would have increased the pressure on the Toffees boss. This result gets Everton back on the straight and narrow, though. It wasn’t a great performance, this should see them turn a corner after a difficult period.

Is there a better left back in the Premier League right now? Digne has become a key outlet for Everton since joining from Barcelona in the summer. It was his cross that provided the assist for Zouma to head home the opener, and this has become a common theme for the Toffees this season. This was another performance that demonstrated just how important Digne has become to them.

Everton - Pickford 6, Coleman 6, Keane 6, Zouma 7, Digne 8, Gomes 6, Gueye 6, Lookman 7, Sigurdsson 6, Bernard 6, Richarlison 6. Subs - Walcott 5, Calvert-Lewin 6, Mina 5.

Bournemouth - Begovic 5, Clyne 7, Cook 6, Ake 7, Smith 5, Stanislas 5, Lerma 6, Gosling 6, Fraser 6, Brooks 7, King 5. Subs - Ibe 5, Mousset 5.

9’ What a chance! Fraser controls a ball at the back post, he has so much space, he squares a pass for King, but he couldn't get it under control and Pickford gathers in the end.

15’ Off the post! Inches away from being an opener for Bournemouth. Stanislas slotted in Brooks, who was in on goal. The angle was getting tighter and his low shot comes back off the base of the post.

42’ Grazes the bar! Keane gets up highest to get on the end of a Digne cross into the box, but his header clips the top of the crossbar. Everton are certainly getting closer in the last 10 minutes or so.

49’ Off the line! How did that stay out? Richarlison was free at the back post, his first header was blocked, but then his second effort is blocked on the Bournemouth line by Ake! Wow!

61’ GOAL! Everton 1-0 Bournemouth: The breakthrough! And it has gone the way of Everton! Digne's cross into the area was a beauty and Zouma got above his marker, and ahead of Begovic, to power a header into the back of the Bournemouth net! The Toffees have the lead.

95’ GOAL! Everton 2-0 Bournemouth: It's the last kick of the game and Everton have put the bow on the win! Lookman cuts the ball back to Calvert-Lewin, whose side-footed shot finds the back of the Bournemouth net via a slight deflection. That will be that.