Everton slip up after Richarlison sees red
IT WASN’T quite in the same league as Zinedine Zidane on Marco Materazzi, but it qualified as a ‘headbutt’ nonetheless. It was undoubtedly a moment of absolute madness.
Richarlison may only be 21, but the Brazilian has been in football long enough to know you cannot respond to a derogatory remark by planting your forehead into an opponent’s face.
Whatever Bournemouth’s Adam Smith said to the Everton man, it prompted a senseless reaction that served to light the blue touchpaper on what became a thrilling afternoon’s entertainment.
We’ll never know if Everton, with their full complement, would have held on to their twogoal lead. Perhaps Richarlison’s energy could have helped keep the late Bournemouth siege at arm’s length.
But credit must not be taken away from Bournemouth, who preserved their unbeaten start to the league thanks to goals from Joshua King and Nathan Ake after Smith himself been sent off.
This fightback wasn’t an isolated occurrence. Since the start of last season, Eddie Howe’s side have won 25 points from losing positions in the league, more than anyone else.
The way these two teams have started the season promised rich entertainment and, after a tepid first half gave way to a frenetic second, we were not disappointed.
‘It’s another comeback and we are delighted to achieve it because at 2-0 down and 10 versus 10 it looked really difficult just from the mental perspective,’ said Howe.
‘I am very pleased with our ability to do that — it gives you a chance — but the frustration is getting into that position.
‘With the numerical advantage at half-time, you expected us to come out and dominate the ball and pin Everton in. That never happened.’
The highlight of the first-half until Richarlison’s dismissal was a chance that the unmarked Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson skied over the bar with only Jordan Pickford to beat.
But as the match meandered towards half-time Everton were awarded a throw-in on the lefthand side. Smith had a word in Richarlison’s ear and whatever was said, the Brazilian snapped, marched up to the Bournemouth defender, shoved his face into Smith’s and made a very definite ‘headbutt’ motion.
Referee Lee Probert reached immediately for his top pocket. It has tarnished what has been a bright start to life at Merseyside for the winger, who scored three times in his opening two outings.
The pressure was suddenly on Bournemouth to go out and claim three points that would have temporarily taken them top of the table.
But there was a twist when Cenk Tosun burst into life, advanced down the right and Theo Walcott had the legs on Charlie Daniels and Ake.
Tosun’s pass was perfect and Walcott slipped his shot between Asmir Begovic and his near post for his second of the season.
Numerical parity was restored shortly afterwards when Walcott stole half a yard on Smith, who tugged the winger’s shirt.
Walcott needed little encouragement to tumble to the ground and even though Smith was the final defender, the red card was slightly harsh.
‘He has brushed Theo when he is sprinting. The referee has a call to make whether it is a red or yellow, that is the big decision,’ said Howe.
Things got worse for the hosts when they were caught napping as Walcott tapped a quicklytaken free-kick into Gylfi Sigurdsson.
His right-wing cross was perfect and Michael Keane produced an almighty leap to meet it, the ball squirming underneath Begovic and over the line.
Yet somehow Bournemouth roused themselves. They were handed a lifeline when King’s long ball into the box towards Wilson drew a barge from Leighton Baines. King beat Pickford from the spot and we had a grandstand finale.
Five minutes later, Wilson met a corner with a looping header that beat Pickford’s outstretched arm, but rebounded back off the inside of the post.
Ake was the quickest to react, applying a close-range finish to earn Bournemouth a deserved share of the spoils.
The drama intensified with a six-minute stoppage when Keane clashed heads with Idrissa Gueye before being taken to hospital.
‘The most important thing is that when he went to hospital, he looked better,’ said Everton manager Marco Silva.