Win helps ease the pressure on Toffess boss Silva
KURT Zouma’s first Everton goal and a late strike from Dominic Calvert-Lewin eased some of the scrutiny on manager Marco Silva but Bournemouth’s miserable run continued after the 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park yesterday.
The on-loan Chelsea defender’s 61st-minute header was followed by substitute Calvert-Lewin sidefooting home in the sixth minute of additional time to secure only the Toffees’ second Premier League win in nine matches, and their first home clean sheet since November 24. Bournemouth’s misery continued as their slump was extended to nine defeats in their last 12 league matches.
At this week’s annual general meeting, Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, while backing Silva, assessed the season as “not good enough”.
Victory at least ensured they are three points better off than at the same stage a year ago when they were on their third manager of the campaign in Sam Allardyce.
Performances will have to improve, significantly, though to prevent Moshiri wondering just where his £250 million investment is going.
Bournemouth, meanwhile, just need to find a way of stopping the rot, although their good start means they are still nine points above the bottom three.
Everton boss Silva will hope the victory, combined with a run of six matches of which only one is against the top six, will provide the platform for the progress Moshiri demands.