Bournemouth breezed past struggling Everton for the second time in a week to pile the pressure on Toffees boss Frank Lampard.
The visitors, who were thrashed 4-1 by the Cherries in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, have now lost five of their last seven Premier League games to slip to 17th in the table, just one place and one point outside the relegation zone.
The home side took the lead early on when Dominic Solanke’s curling effort was parried by Jordan Pickford into the path of Marcus Tavernier, who bundled the ball home for his second Premier League goal in as many matches.
Wales international Kieffer Moore doubled Bournemouth’s advantage seven minutes later with a powerful header from close range after Tavernier had helped the ball back into the box, although Lampard was furious that the game was allowed to continue after James Tarkowski suffered a head injury in the build-up.
Everton improved after the break and went close through Idrissa Gueye, while the impressive Tavernier would have extended Bournemouth’s lead but for a fine stop by Pickford.
Bournemouth did get a third goal when substitute Jaidon Anthony, who also scored against Everton in midweek, headed home Lewis Cook’s free-kick with virtually his first touch.
The win, which lifts Bournemouth above Everton into 13th place, caps a fine few days for interim boss Gary O’Neil, with a decision over a permanent manager expected during the World Cup break.
This defeat completes a chastening week for Everton, who were well beaten in the Premier League by Leicester last weekend before that heavy Carabao Cup defeat against the Cherries on Tuesday.
This latest reverse makes it six defeats from eight games in all competitions and will leave the Toffees facing another relegation battle when the Premier League resumes after the World Cup.
The exasperated Everton supporters, who made the long trip down to the south coast for the second time in four days, made their feelings clear at the final whistle, remonstrating furiously with some of their players as they approached the away section.
A run of six games unbeaten earlier in the autumn had raised hopes of a more successful season under Lampard after last year’s dramatic escape from relegation, but this alarming slide in the form will put his position under scrutiny.
He does have some reasons to be aggrieved. Referee Craig Pawson could have stopped the game when Tarkowski went down holding his head in the lead-up to Bournemouth’s second goal, while Cook was perhaps fortunate to only be booked for a lunge on Amadou Onana.
However, Lampard can have few complaints with the result, with Bournemouth wasting a number of chances to make the scoreline even more painful for the Everton boss in the second half.
This could have been O’Neil’s last game in charge, with Bournemouth having held talks with Marcelo Bielsa about becoming Scott Parker’s permanent successor.
If that proves the case, O’Neil will bow out on a high note after two quick-fire wins over the Toffees to end a run of four straight defeats, sending the supporters into the World Cup break in a buoyant mood.
Two of those previous defeats – against Tottenham and Leeds – saw the Cherries concede two-goal leads, but they were never in any danger of conceding that advantage here, with a first clean sheet in eight games completing a perfect afternoon.
They could have added to their tally in the second half, but Solanke spurned two decent opportunities before having a goal disallowed for a marginal offside, while Philip Billing drilled just wide late on.
As well as a new manager, Bournemouth could have a new owner when the Premier League resumes, with US businessman Bill Foley progressing with his takeover of the south coast club.
source – BBC
