Bournemouth 1-0 Everton: Stanislas ends Toffees' unbeaten start
Junior Stanislas was the match winner as the Cherries
picked up their second win of the season, inflicting the first defeat
on Ronald Koeman's side
Junior Stanislas once again proved the scourge of Everton as his
superb first-half strike secured a 1-0 victory for Bournemouth and ended
the Toffees' unbeaten Premier League start under Ronald Koeman.
Stanislas - who netted twice in the thrilling 3-3 draw in the
corresponding fixture last term, including a dramatic
98th-minute leveller - put Eddie Howe's side ahead midway through a
first-half that they dominated at the Vitality Stadium.
Both Jack Wilshere, on his full home debut, and Harry Arter had
rattled the woodwork in the early stages, before Stanislas's sublime
long-range effort did the damage for the hosts.
Koeman's side pressed hard for a leveller in a less eventful
second-half with Ross Barkley particularly wasteful in front of goal.
But Bournemouth frustrated their visitors and held on to seal their
first win in six attempts against Everton, bringing the Merseysiders'
run of four successive league victories to an end.
In a lively opening, Callum Wilson flashed a header wide for
Bournemouth in the second minute, while Artur Boruc reacted
instinctively to prevent Romelu Lukaku nodding Everton ahead.
Bournemouth were soon in the ascendency, though, and Seamus Coleman
did well to deflect Wilshere's effort onto the crossbar after Everton
were carved open by a swift counter-attack.
Howe's side continued to grow in confidence and Arter was next to
test Everton's defence as he drove into the area before hammering a low
strike against the right-hand upright.
The hosts were finally rewarded in the 23rd minute when Stanislas' thumping 25-yard effort nestled in the top-left corner.
The Cherries almost went further ahead 10 minutes before the interval
when Charlie Daniels latched onto Phil Jagielka's miscued clearance,
but the defender's header was off target.
Surprisingly, Koeman decided against making changes at the break, and
though Bournemouth continued to build on their momentum, Everton
managed to open up their defence 10 minutes after the restart – Barkley
heading wide despite being unmarked from Coleman's cross.
Koeman introduced Tom Cleverley and Gerard Deulofeu as the hour-mark
approached, and the latter almost had an immediate impact as his looping
cross was clawed off the line by Boruc.
Everton looked brighter following the changes, but Bournemouth's
defence remained solid, though Yannick Bolasie, following good
combination play with Lukaku, did power a strike just over the bar.
Enner Valencia was brought on in the closing stages, and the West Ham
loanee should have levelled it in the 89th minute, but he could only
skew wide from close-range as Everton slumped to their second straight
defeat following the EFL Cup loss to Norwich City.
Bournemouth's victory was, however, marred slightly in stoppage time -
Adam Smith picking up a painful blow to his face following a collision
with Ashley Williams.
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