Everton’s dismal record at Hill Dickinson Stadium got extended after Bournemouth beat the hosts 2-1 to end their five-game unbeaten run in the league.
Despite taking the lead through Iliman Ndiaye from the penalty spot in the first half, the Toffees failed to score the insurance goal. They ended up imploding in the second half as two quick goals from Rayan and Amine Adli stunned the home fans into silence.
The second goal from Adli was controversially allowed to stand despite Enes Unal being offside when Alex Scott delivered the free-kick into the box. It’s worth keeping in mind that the Blues had a goal disallowed recently when Harrison Armstrong, in a similar position as Unal, was adjudged to have “been involved” in the buildup.
Jake O’Brien saw a straight red minutes later for colliding into Adli, with the latter perceived to be in a clear goalscoring position and the implosion was complete.
Despite being a man down, the hosts showed a lot of spirit and fight to keep pushing for the equaliser but Andoni Iraola’s men were well organised at the back. Thierno Barry missed two gilt-edged opportunities earlier in the game and his distraught face after being subbed off summed up Everton’s night.
Here are the player ratings from Everton’s 2-1 loss to Bournemouth at home:
Jordan Pickford: 6
Made a decent save off Evanilson in the first half and while there was nothing he could’ve done about the second goal, Pickford would be disappointed to not have dealt with Rayan’s header at the backpost, even though he was let down by his defenders.
Jake O’Brien: 4
O’Brien was defensively sound but didn’t offer too much going forward. He was sent off for bringing down Adli which was perceived as a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
James Tarkowski: 6
Tarkowski held his ground defensively and making a great block on Enes Unal and using his outstretched leg to deny Bournemouth a chance.
Jarrad Branthwaite: 6.5
Branthwaite, starting as a centre-back for the first time this season, looked shaky in the early moments and gave away possession cheaply. He atoned for it by winning the ball from Rayan before getting clipped by the youngster inside the box to win a penalty for his side.
He also made an excellent last-ditch tackle to block the pass to Eli Junior Kroupi in injury time
Vitalii Mykolenko (replaced by Michael Keane at 90+2’): 5
Mykolenko clearly didn’t do enough to check Rayan’s run and header at the backpost and had a tough time against dealing with the Brazilian winger and Alex Jimenez. Had chances to venture forward in the second half and sent in a couple of good crosses into the box.
Idrissa Gueye: 5
Gueye has looked jaded since returning from AFCON and could desperately use some rest. With that being said, he made a crunching tackle on Rayan late in the first half and innocuously clattered into Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the second.
James Garner: 7.5
When the chips were down, it was Garner who shouldered the burden of responsibility. With O’Brien sent off, he shifted to right-back when out of position before using the ball to drive through the middle of the park and influence proceedings in the final third.
It was his clever knuckle-ball free-kick from distance that was spilled on to Barry’s path that the Frenchman should’ve capitalised on. Garner also made a crucial intervention when Bournemouth had a 4v2 situation late in the game.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 5.5
Dewsbury-Hall delivered an inviting cross across the face of goal to Ndiaye which was saved by Petrovic. However, his decision-making in the final third wasn’t the best.
Iliman Ndiaye: 7
Ndiaye showed great early involvement forcing danger in the opposition box and he got to the end of Dewsbury-Hall’s driven cross, but Petrovic saved his shot from an acute angle.
The Senegalese stepped up to the spot and coolly converted his penalty to fire the hosts into the lead. He also set up Barry for what but the Frenchman’s tame shot was blocked in front of goal. Ndiaye, however, allowed Truffert too much time on the ball and it led to the Bournemouth equaliser.
Thierno Barry (replaced by Beto at 62’): 2
Awful, awful night for Everton’s number 11. Had he converted the two gilt-edged opportunities he was delivered on a plate, it would’ve been a completely different contest.
Barry squandered a huge opportunity from two yards out after Petrovic spilled Garner’s initial effort on to his path, however, his left-footed effort was wide off the mark.
After being set up by Ndiaye, his tame effort was blocked by Alex Jimenez at the goal line. Barry was distraught in the dugout after he was taken off.
Tyrique George (replaced by Harrison Armstrong at 62’): 5
Had a couple of nice moments but the teenager isn’t exactly on the same wavelength as his some of his teammates. He had a breakdown in communication with Dewsbury-Hall and Mykolenko on a couple of occasions. George was also guilty of dwelling in possession for too long before getting robbed which led to the Evanilson chance.
Substitutions
Beto: 5
Beto made a rash challenge on Christie to enter the referee’s book and he should’ve done better with Ndiaye’s floated ball into the box.
Harrison Armstrong: 5
Couldn’t get enough power on his header from the corner in injury time
Michael Keane: N/A
Reader Comments (26)
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2 Posted 11/02/2026 at 08:14:14
In which world do you exist Anjishnu?
Mykolenko 5, the same as Beto!!!!!????? Mykolenko was an easy 7 lad.
Dewsbury-Hll, 5.5? Cough.
Get MK to do the ratings or just don't do them. We lived without them before the gambling crew took over.
3 Posted 11/02/2026 at 08:18:38
Editorial Team
4 Posted 11/02/2026 at 08:28:25
About the edit button, I understand your frustration.
From my end, I've raised the issue to the tech team, the HR team, and raised Jira tickets to get it sorted, and I keep following up on it every other week. I'm not a web developer or a coder, so it's not something I can address personally.
5 Posted 11/02/2026 at 08:34:14
Keep raising it mate.
6 Posted 11/02/2026 at 09:05:11
George looks promising, always looking to take on his man (or men, because of Everton's pedestrian passing, there's usually 2 on him by the time he gets the ball). It hasn't come off yet, but when it does it will create chances.
Mykolenko actually had his best game going forward that I have seen (low bar though); unfortunately, he had his worst one defensively. He was culpable for the equalizer and was very lucky to not give away a penalty.
Tarkowski is the captain, if players are not doing what they should, it's his job to motivate and inspire them. His defensive unit was a shambles (we have several tall players, why don't we win any headers?) and there was no urgency until we went a goal down.
Spot on with Branthwaite. He started off poorly but looked a class apart as the game progressed, with two delicious balls up the left flank late on, to start an attack.
7 Posted 11/02/2026 at 09:29:28
Armstrong looked really good and Dewsbury-Hall was easily a 7. Gana is not worth his place now -- we have younger and better available to us. After the red card Rohl should have replaced Gana as that lad can run all day.
We should have been 3 up by that time.
I thought George did well on his home debut -- he's raw but clearly has skill and pace and isn't a headless chicken.
We tend to offer up space in the centre of midfield and our big defenders don't attack crosses. There is no way we should be conceding those goals with 6'-5" and 6'-6" lads at the back. Moyes doesn't need transfer funds to fix that -- just work with the players!!
8 Posted 11/02/2026 at 09:53:43
In terms of goals per game, Wikipedia tells me we have had a few who were even worse. These include -- in order of awfulness -- Brett Angell, Rod Belfitt, Bernie Wright & Cenk Tosun. There could be a couple more.
One surprise is that Oumar Niasse had a better strike rate than either of the current two. Is he still available?
9 Posted 11/02/2026 at 10:20:30
And Moyes's obsession with hammering square pegs into round holes.
10 Posted 11/02/2026 at 10:31:40
Forget other positions -- come the summer transfer window, we need a top-quality striker and two top-quality full-backs.
If that happens, next season will be something to look forward to as long as we retain our best players in the meantime.
11 Posted 11/02/2026 at 15:03:52
Myklenko doesn't deserve a 5; I would've given him a 2. Him and Tarkowski have been poor all season.
12 Posted 11/02/2026 at 16:14:39
Goodness knows, he's saved us many times in the past, but he was poor last night. His distribution was pretty dreadful too.
14 Posted 11/02/2026 at 18:21:22
As for the two clowns up front, they have cost us more points than anyone. The worst strikers I've seen at our club -- and that includes Rod Belfitt and Jo.
16 Posted 11/02/2026 at 19:57:17
Rohl or even Armstrong (not quite the same player, I know) would be more than worthy replacements at this moment in time.
Dave, I'm almost frightened to ask. Did you go yesterday on that beloved coach?
17 Posted 12/02/2026 at 04:29:10
Barry did little or nothing and I was hoping Beto would come on at half-time. Ndiaye looks completely off the pace since the Afcon. Hopefully, a rest before the next game will help him get back to his usual self. Same goes somewhat for Gana Gueye.
O'Brien's red card hopefully gives Patterson a 3-game run as he balances the defence.
James Garner was MotM for me!
18 Posted 12/02/2026 at 12:19:31
No, I didn't go. I had my name down but opted out when I found out it was on live TV. Problem is with a night game, I don't get home til gone 4 am and Mrs Williams takes a dim view of the day after being a bit of a write-off. A number of guys did go and were well hacked off!!
I'm not sure I understand the theory that the players are unsettled at the new ground. It's surely that we leave a gaping hole in centre-midfield because we are trying to attack and the opposition break quickly beyond Gana.
As most people say, two proper full-backs and a decent striker who can hold the ball and score the clear chances... and life's a good un!
19 Posted 12/02/2026 at 12:45:07
7 for Ndiaye, 6 for Pickford, 5 for Mykolenko, 4 for Obrien and 2 for Barry.
I think some of those numbers are a disgrace tbh.
20 Posted 14/02/2026 at 08:39:06
Not a prayer did Ndiaye deserve a 7, done nothing since he came back. Ditto Gueye, Ndiaye can produce bits of magic but has been largely disappointing since Afcon, that said, he takes a mean penalty.
Mykolenko and Tarkowski deserve no more than 3, Tarkowski makes a mistake every single game and blames everyone else, it was his needless foul that led to their 2nd goal.
In fact the whole team deserves no more than a 4, I wouldn't say anyone stood out.
Oh and when are you going to start dishing minus marks out cos that yard dog up front deserves about a –5.
Oh and the stadium can have a minus mark as well cos I'm starting to hate the bastard place, can't wait to move.... (Ahem!)
21 Posted 14/02/2026 at 08:58:59
The whole experience the other night took me out of our house for 3 hours (I left around 7 pm ; home for 10 pm) and I only went in the end to get myself out the house and to stop being fucking miserable... plus my daughter wanted to go.
The walk up to the stadium actually inspires me but, once I get there, watching the slow rigid football with very little interchanging between the players just depresses the life out of me.
Give us back our game -- 3 o'clock, on a Saturday afternoon, instead of rushing to a stadium in the pissing down rain (straight from work for a lot of people), to a place that is a logistical nightmare.
No wonder the City Mayor is called 'Don't Bother Him'!
22 Posted 14/02/2026 at 10:06:09
Football is supposed to be a release for us from work or no work, disgruntled other half, troublesome kids, and when we spend 3 hours and a good few £££s battling to get there only to see slow unimaginative football played by guys who don't seem that bothered, life does seem hard going.
Is it really too much for Moyes to take the brake off and tell the players to enjoy themselves and play with pace and fight and energy??? In his first spell, Moyes did this occasionally and the team was entertaining.
He has the players to do this, albeit we are short up front, but play Patterson and Aznou and stick young Graham on the bench and give him the last 15 minutes so we can all see what he is about.
Everton is supposed to give us pleasure -- not make loyal fans like you miserable!
23 Posted 14/02/2026 at 10:24:41
The manager regularly gets out-thought and out-played. He is probably the least reactive manager I have seen in all my years watching football.
Gaps all over the pitch, overloaded and out-numbered in midfield, he just watches it happening... regularly.
It's not for me, this survival-first football.
24 Posted 14/02/2026 at 10:50:31
I couldn't agree more... soul-destroying football.
Let's bring Dyche or Lampard or Benitez back. These guys really knew how to play fast open attacking football. Let's get back to fighting relegation, worried sick when any teams around us pick up points.
25 Posted 14/02/2026 at 10:52:58
That is an unintelligent reply from yourself.
It's a simple choice? Moyes or relegation fights?
You go back to wherever you want, mate.
26 Posted 14/02/2026 at 11:14:30
I watched the end of the Cliff Britton era, then on through Catterick and Kendall to now. Howard Kendall was as close to the sack as you can get but he had the wisdom to sack Mick Heaton, the coach he brought with him from Blackburn, and appoint one of the best coaches ever to grace British football, Colin Harvey.
After that, we won everything. Joe Royle with his Dogs of War won the FA Cup and he also prevented us from being relegated, and the name, the Dogs of War was appropriate -- but it was exactly what was needed.
George Graham won the league with Arsenal and that's were the chant came 1-0 to the Arsenal came from. No flowing football but a system that won them the league.
I think what I am trying to say is there are many ways to skin a cat. Now you might not like Moyes's way, but it beats fighting relegation every season. We would all like wonderful 1970 Brazil-type football, but you need the quality of players to do that and it's a very long time since we had anything like that quality.
27 Posted 14/02/2026 at 11:23:26
Do you enjoy what you see when you go to the game?
28 Posted 14/02/2026 at 11:39:26
I think most of my comments are borne out of frustration, not being able to put the likes of Brentford, Wolves and Bournemouth to bed.
Also, the night games are starting to grate... there seems to be no end to them.
Another few coming up, and if we'd have won that shoot-out in the FA Cup, no doubt we would have been drawn to play on a Thursday or Monday night.
But it's me, mate, and I do love a good moan, as my wife and son are constantly telling me.
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1 Posted 11/02/2026 at 07:52:01
You can't afford to miss chances at this level, Bournemouth have done to us what we did to Fulham on Saturday, a bit like a carbon copy in many ways.
The midfield set-up for me is not working: it doesn't work having Garner and Gana starting in the same side, especially at home.
We haven't really learned anything new from last night: we have known the problem areas for some time -- we are weak at both full-back areas and we are weak at centre-forward. That isn't changing this season now.
Our lack of goals will be the reason once again why we don't fulfil our potential this season. Unless it's seriously rectified in summer, and I mean seriously rectified -- not just signing some kid to play as back-up striker and a 18-year-old left-back who will spend all season on the bench -- then next season will be pretty much the same.