AFC Bournemouth 3-3 EvertonHome team scorersAdam Smith 80
Junior Stanislas 87
Junior Stanislas 90 +7:13
Away team scorersRamiro Funes Mori 25
Romelu Lukaku 36
Ross Barkley 90 +4:45
It was only a point but the manner in which it was earned felt like so much more for Bournemouth and it would not be beyond the imagination to suggest this could well be a turning point in their season. First-half goals from Funes Ramiro Mori and Romelu Lukaku, his eighth in eight games, had Everton in control but Eddie Howe’s team, displaying a wonderful never-say-die attitude, pushed and pushed and fought their way back to 2-2 thanks to goals from Adam Smith and Junior Stanislas in the final 10 minutes.
Tthe hosts almost threw it away again when Ross Barkley’s goal deep in stoppage time looked like ensuring a third win from four for Roberto Martínez’s team but Stanislas headed a Charlie Daniels cross home immediately from the restart. Cue wild scenes of celebration and while they remain two points from safety, Bournemouth’s players left the pitch with a newfound sense of belief.
Everton were not as effervescently brilliant as during the dismantling of Aston Villa seven days previous but were a level above in the first half.
Funes Mori’s opening goal was ominous. Adam Federici, who needed treatment early on after landing awkwardly from punching clear a corner and was replaced at half-time, made a pair of fine saves to deny Arouna Koné and Lukaku two minutes earlier while also getting in the way of a low, tame James McCarthy attempt, but there was little he could do to deny the Argentinian defender his first goal for Everton and the team’s first from a set piece this season.
Barkley sent in a deep corner and after climbing higher than Steve Cook, the centre-half directed a powerful header across goal, far from the keeper’s reach. King attempted to clear it off the line without success, and from that moment on Martínez’s team controlled the rest of the opening half.
There was a simple beauty to Lukaku’s goal but, once more, questions must be raised over the quality of the hosts’ defending. Plenty of credit should go to Gerard Deulofeu for sending a delicious pass from the right into Lukaku’s path. However, the ease in which the Belgian striker turned Cook before burying the ball past Federici from eight yards left Howe shaking his head in disappointment, spitting his chewing gum out with a scowl on his face.
Cook was hooked at the break, while the club’s third-choice goalkeeper Ryan Allsop, who spent last season on loan at Coventry, made his top-flight bow after Federici was deemed unfit to continue. Initially there were encouraging signs.
King pickpocketed an uncharacteristically dozing Barkley before his attempt was blocked by John Stones, Gosling headed a Daniels cross into the arms of Howard and the left-back also forced the Everton keeper to save.
Everton remained potent on the break – Lukaku was denied a second by Allsop after Coleman delivered a tasty cross from the right – but Bournemouth’s hold of the ball increased. King was denied once more, a succession of corners were forced and Ritchie wasted a glorious chance when shooting straight at Howard in the 70th minute.
The pressure continue to build, their belief never wavered. And with 10 minutes to go came a lifeline as Smith halved the deficit with a delightful long-range effort that went in off a post after Everton failed to clear a corner and the substitute defender was left unmarked outside the area.
Everton looked out on their feet and with the division’s smallest ground suddenly vibrating Bournemouth continued to push. King danced down the right before sending a low cross in and Stanislas was on hand to slot home first time at the near post past Howard.
There were three minutes left but it all seemed like an appetiser to the most dramatic conclusion imaginable. Barkley’s goal from eight yards looked like being enough, spawning a pitch invasion from the Everton support, but with 97 minutes and 13 seconds played Stanislas arrived to head home Daniels’ cross from a similar distance.