Everton – Bournemouth: Doucouré Bails Toffees Out Of The Stickiest Of Situations (1-0)

Sixty-nine years in England’s top flight, Abdoulaye Doucouré ensured that the clock was not going to reset. Despite another Goodison Park miracle, the bigger picture looms: with the finances and money spent, Everton should never have gotten into this position.

Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker.

Judgment day began with Everton in pole position over Leicester City and Leeds United, two points ahead of them both. Just a win was needed to guarantee survival.

Even if survival was to be achieved, it’s worth reminding that Everton’s spending is not one of a plucky underdog and more of a catastrophic failure. The huge divide between the board and the fans has Sean Dyche trying to steady the ship; his organization has seen them pick up crucial points at Brighton and Wolves. With a poorly built squad, Dyche had to pull one last trick to keep his team alive, not just their status in the league but perhaps their very existence. 

Bournemouth stood in the way of their destiny, already safe and with nothing to play for. Gary O’Neil has produced a remarkable job, with six wins from nine games going through March and April, which has kept their heads above water. Going to Goodison Park, winless in their last three games, one would assume that the players were already at the beaches, but perhaps an adrenaline rush of the game stakes could kick the team back into gear for a dramatic end to the season. 

Dyche would make two enforced changes from their 1-1 draw away to Wolves last weekend. Nathan Patterson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin both picked . . .