James Tarkowski's injury time header snatched a 1-1 draw for Everton against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. Alex Scott's first-half goal looked set to secure three points for Marco Rose's side until the late set-piece drama.
Bournemouth now sit 14th in the Premier League with one point from their opening two matches, having scored twice and conceded three. They are five points behind early leaders Manchester City. The result extended Bournemouth's unbeaten home run in the league, which dates back to 3 January, but it felt like a defeat after the late concession. The match was played in difficult conditions of wind and rain.
Alex Scott gave Bournemouth the lead with a well-taken first-half finish. He controlled a pass from Evanilson before slotting past Jordan Pickford. Marco Rose later called it a top performance from the midfielder. Bournemouth grew into the game after a slow start where Everton managed eight shots in the opening half-hour, one of them from Jarrad Branthwaite.
Scott's influence was such that he left the pitch late on to a standing ovation from the home support. His goal was the product of Bournemouth's increasing control, which saw them create several chances to kill the game. Rayan came to the fore as Bournemouth found momentum, repeatedly troubling Vitaliy Mykolenko down the Everton left. Adrien Truffert also galloped forward from full-back in the second half as the hosts pressed.
Everton's equaliser came deep into added time from an outswinging corner delivered by Hayden Hackney. James Tarkowski rose highest to head home, with Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Christie involved in a tangle in the build-up. Bournemouth had survived earlier scares when Hackney and Pickford combined to deflect goal-bound efforts from Rayan and Evanilson.
Marco Rose was frustrated with the nature of the goal. "It’s not even a set-piece goal, it was just slapstick," the Bournemouth manager said. He added, "We could have scored a second goal two, three or four times and now we have to deal with a point." The late strike showed how set pieces retain huge importance in the Premier League.
The club is balancing domestic commitments with a European campaign. They are set to play AC Milan in the Europa League and have upcoming trips to San Sebastián, Galicia, Norway, and Czechia. This comes amid a significant stadium renovation at the Vitality, which currently features towering exoskeletons and new security cordons.
Injury concerns persist, with Amine Adli, Eli Junior Kroupi, Julián Araujo, and Veljko Milosavljević all currently sidelined. Fans can check the latest availability on the club's injuries page. Rose acknowledged the learning curve, saying he has to get used to the Premier League, calling it quite different and always an open game.
Attention turns quickly to a tough away fixture against Newcastle United, who are sixth in the table, on 5 September. The match offers a swift chance to respond after the late disappointment against Everton.
Everton manager David Moyes faced questions about the future of 19-year-old Harrison Armstrong, who is linked with a £40m move to Nottingham Forest. Moyes said selling the player would be a club decision and that he does not really want to talk about the potential sale. Everton also faces an expensive legal dispute with Burnley, and squad cost ratios are likely to diminish their competitiveness. Bournemouth's next home league game is after their European travels, with the team looking to protect that long unbeaten record at the Vitality.
