Sport nationEverton FC suffered a devastating 3-2 loss against Bournemouth at Goodison Park, leaving them without a single point in the Premier League so far. Despite leading 2-0 with just three minutes left to play, the Toffees collapsed, allowing Bournemouth to score three goals and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
One of the few positives from the match was the performance of Iliman Ndiaye, who made his full Premier League debut for Everton. The summer signing from Marseille was electric throughout the encounter, earning a standing ovation from the crowd when he was substituted in the 83rd minute.
Everton manager Sean Dyche praised Ndiaye’s performance, saying: “There were a few today who you feel for because of their performances. But at the end of the day, I said I was monitoring these players and when they’re ready. I think he is and he’s delivered today and played very well.”
Dyche explained that Ndiaye was substituted due to fatigue, saying: “He was fatigued. He had run hard by then. Premier League fitness, as you know… he is a very fit boy but I thought he was fatiguing at that stage. It’s one of those things. It was definitely fatigue.”
Despite Ndiaye’s impressive performance, Everton’s collapse in the final minutes of the match was a major concern for Dyche. The Toffees had been in control of the game, leading 2-0 with goals from Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. However, Bournemouth’s late surge caught them off guard, and they were unable to hold on for the win.
Dyche rued the errors that his team made in the closing stages, saying: “We were still playing one-twos and going for overlaps and I’m going: ‘Why? You don’t need to. You’re in control of the game. Complete control. We didn’t need to do that. So then the pitch gets spread, they keep pushing it forward and just crossing into the box. Absolute basics of football and they did it and we didn’t deal with it.”
The Everton manager was frustrated with his team’s inability to see out the game, saying: “Obvious things are mistakes. You can’t make those mistakes. They weren’t individual mistakes, it’s the fact that you’re not doing what the team needs to do to see the game off. It’s incredibly frustrating. It’s the third game we’ve thrown away and you can’t do that in the Premier League – I know that and they know that.”
The loss was a harsh reality check for Everton, who had been hoping to pick up their first points of the season. Instead, they find themselves at the bottom of the Premier League table, with a lot of work to do to turn their season around.
In contrast, Bournemouth’s comeback was a testament to their team spirit and determination. The Cherries had been trailing 2-0 with just minutes left to play, but they refused to give up, scoring three goals in the final minutes to snatch victory.
The win was a record-breaking one for Bournemouth, who became the first team in Premier League history to come back from two goals down to win a match in the 88th minute or later.
For Everton, the defeat was a painful reminder of their struggles so far this season. The Toffees have now lost all three of their Premier League matches, and they face a tough task to turn their season around.
However, with players like Ndiaye in their squad, there is still hope for Everton. The young midfielder showed glimpses of his talent against Bournemouth, and he will be looking to build on that performance in the coming weeks.
As for Dyche, he will be working hard to address the mistakes that cost his team the match. The Everton manager knows that his team cannot afford to make the same errors again if they want to succeed in the Premier League.
In the end, it was a disappointing day for Everton, but one that they can learn from. With a bit of luck and some hard work, the Toffees can turn their season around and start climbing the Premier League table.
Amina Umar
Sport nation
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