Having lost just one of their last five games heading into this one, Bournemouth started positively, forcing an early save from Jordan Pickford through Antoine Semenyo’s strike.
The Ghana international was often the outlet for the Cherries during a rather flat first half, in which neither side produced much in the way of clear-cut chances.
At the other end, Dominic Calvert-Lewin came closest for Everton, seeing his low shot pushed wide by Neto after a neat interchange with James Tarkowski.
Sitting 14 points above the drop zone at the start of play, the Cherries knew the onus was very much on their visitors, who were looking to end a run of 11 PL matches without a win (D5, L6) – the longest such current run in the league.
As such, it was no surprise to see Everton start the second period with renewed vigour, seeing a Calvert-Lewin penalty appeal waived away before Dwight McNeil clipped the near post following a short corner.
However, with 64 minutes on the clock, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock, hitting Sean Dyche’s side on the counter to leave the Toffees in a spot of bother.
Making his return after a lengthy injury-enforced absence, substitute Lloyd Kelly delivered an inch-perfect cross for Cherries top scorer Dominic Solanke to head in his 16th PL goal of the season – drawing level with Joshua King’s Bournemouth record.
Everton had only managed to rescue two points on the 13 previous occasions they had fallen behind in the league this campaign, but with time running out, substitute Beto was on hand to capitalise from a Neto error, prodding in from close range after the goalkeeper spilled a cross.
That looked to have salvaged a point for the Toffees, yet in stoppage time, club captain Seamus Coleman turned into his own net when a bouncing ball ricocheted off his chest and into an empty net.
That calamitous own goal means that Everton are still searching for a first league win in 2024, with their precarious position in the table somewhat unclear ahead of another hearing.
Meanwhile, Andoni Iraola’s side are just nine points from setting a new club record points tally in the PL, with safety all but assured as they sit comfortably in 13th.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth)
