AFC Bournemouth and Everton often serve up classics. This fixture at Dean Court will be another to add to that collection.
Two red cards, four goals and over 100 minutes of football later, Everton return to Goodison Park with a point and most importantly all the well wishes for Michael Keane who suffered a nasty injury in stoppage time.
FOOTBALL: #EFC defender Michael Keane has been taken to hospital after being stretchered off in the draw at #AFCB this afternoon. Keane clashed heads with Idrissa Gana Gueye in the second half. Marco Silva has said that he looked better before going to be assessed. pic.twitter.com/zkdCYiI2O9
— BBC Sport Merseyside (@bbcmerseysport) August 25, 2018
Before that horrendous incident, the game had seen plenty of controversy with two red cards, one for Richarlison of Everton and one for AFC Bournemouth’s Adam Smith.
Richarlison’s red card followed an altercation with Smith, the £50million summer signing shared some verbals with Smith before both players appeared to lean into each other. At this point, Richarlison made a forward rutting motion with his head. Smith didn’t drop to the ground like many players would, but the referee had seen enough to show a straight red card.
Up until this point the Cherries had enjoyed the better chances but had failed to capitalise on them and early in the second half it was former Southampton attacker Theo Walcott opened the scoring for the visitors.
Adam Smith then was shown a straight red card for felling Walcott when he was the last man, the referee didn’t need a second thought to take advantage of the opportunity to level things up.
Everton then made it 2-0 when Keane scored Everton’s second.
The game looked over until Leighton Baines fouled Callum Wilson inside the box. Having missed from 12 yards against Cardiff City, Wilson passed on penalty kick duty to Joshua King, who took his chance to score his first goal of the season.
Several minutes later and Nathan Ake scored the Cherries equaliser to send the north stand into a frenzy.
AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was obviously complementary about how his players reacted from being two goals behind but equally showed his frustration at his side having to come from behind to take anything from the game.
Very frustrating game today but again a never say die attitude. Thoughts are with Michael Keane. We all hope he makes a quick recovery 🙏🏽
— Steve Cook (@SteveCook28) August 25, 2018
Great comeback to get the point! Wish Michael Keane a speedy recovery 💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/Y1PNQz7298
— Callum Wilson (@CallumWilson) August 25, 2018
Howe told afcb.co.uk…
We’re delighted to achieve another comeback. At ten versus ten it was difficult from a mental perspective given how the game had gone.
We had the better chances in the first half. We didn’t get our rhythm going or have enough of the ball. Once we got the goal to make the score 2-1 the momentum changed in the game.
How we do it is a combination of several things, including the players showing great mental strength.
I’m very pleased with the ability to come from behind as it always gives you a chance in a game, but it frustrates us that we allow it to happen in the first place. There’s plenty to learn from it.
Your say…
It’sRicotime wrote…
I’ll start this thread positively by saying what a comeback, great character again from a seemingly hopeless position, this really is a special group of players and lots to be positive about. However… I have observed over the last season and a bit that Asmir Begovic seems to have major issues guarding his near post, often getting beaten in situations he really should be able to handle comfortably. My view of the first goal today wasn’t the best and it could be that I’m being a tad harsh in this instance. But it is a worrying pattern…. – Join the conversation, click here.
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