Whisper it for now but Everton are not as terrible as you might think. They are certainly not bad enough to get relegated.
Not on the pitch, at least.
The imminent Premier League hearing and shadow of a points penalty for alleged creative accountancy may ultimately decide their fate. This timely victory gave credence to the argument that results have been more abysmal than performances.
The next ambition is to be hailed for being too good for a survival battle. Small steps first for Sean Dyche. For now, the fact there are three vastly inferior teams in the top flight is a foundation upon which to build.
One of those sides is Bournemouth.
Optimistic declarations of better times may be regarded as an emotional overreaction to Everton’s first Goodison win since May – only their second in their last 10 home fixtures – both of which were against the same club. And this version of Bournemouth is a shadow of the one that had nothing to play for on its last visit under Gary O’Neil.
For perspective, Everton had not managed to score more than once in a home fixture for 12 months, making the three here a banquet.
Everton’s previous home win over Bournemouth preserved Premier League football. There was nothing so consequential this time, but Dyche should not be ridiculed for claiming an emphatic scoreline was in the post.
For all the disillusionment concerning the club’s general direction, the manager has been immune from most criticism from supporters and media. Frank Lampard enjoyed similar patience before results became unsustainable.
Despair has not morphed into distrust because memories of an improbable escape are fresh, and Dyche has developed a healthy knack of seeing his side change its tune when the requiem is being rehearsed.
When they find a rhythm, it seems like a strange anomaly. Think of the mauling of Brighton at the Amex Stadium last season – probably the most unpredictable Everton result in years to keep them up – or even the recent Carabao Cup win at Aston Villa.
Neutrals were also purring at the quality of Everton’s performance when winning at Brentford. Dyche and his allies believe the league position does not reflect the overall standard.
Everton are where they are because of a failure to take chances rather than create them.
The critical difference this time was they were clinical, deservedly 3-0 up after an hour and justified arguing that was flattering to the visitors.
“Other than the scoreline, I think there have been a few performances [like that],” said Dyche. “It does not have the same strength when you don’t win. I am not saying it is a complete performance but it is a very good one. We have won three out of four now.”
Such improved attacking efficiency follows when Dominic Calvert-Lewin is able to play a sequence of games.
If their high-class striker is available, Everton will be comfortably mid-table. That is not just because of Calvert-Lewin’s goals. His ability to hold the play, enable midfield runners to scamper forward, and generally terrorise centre-halves is transformative.
The most eye-catching Everton player in recent games, however, is midfielder James Garner. His influence has grown to the point where he ran this game. Bournemouth arrived naively believing they could showcase passing triangles. Garner’s tirelessness ensured the visitors kept locating cul-de-sacs, taking the initiative with Everton’s opening goal when Illia Zabarnyi dawdled in possession. Garner opted to ignore two passing options and drill past Neto.
The keeper was then culpable when Jack Harrison marked his first Premier League start for his new club with a brilliant volley from the edge of the penalty area, punishing a tame punch with a pinpoint finish.
As a Goodison crowd savoured a rare secure scoreline, it seemed inconceivable Everton’s flirtation with the bottom three would last based on their personnel.
They have England’s number one, two solid centre-backs and a young midfielder in Amadou Onana who fluctuates between flattering to deceive to resembling the prototype box-to-box midfielder (not unreasonable inconsistency for a 22-year-old) while the ever-improving, fit-again Dwight McNeil never stops running.
They are far from a great Everton team. It is stretching it to say they are good. But there has been far worse here recently.
Bournemouth coach Andoni Iraola may have been most guilty in failing to see beyond Everton’s position as his pre-match optimism gave way to an honest self-appraisal.
“I have a good reputation. I have to show it. We have not won games so I have not been doing my homework,” he said. “We have to be worried. We have to be more solid defensively and keep concentration.”
No manager should be more fearful of the October international break given the Premier League usually has one casualty at this point.
To be outplayed, outrun and outclassed by a team in such a barren run does not bode well for Iraola. Replacing the impressive O’Neil to usher in this era is starting to look like self-mutilation.
Given Bournemouth were the source of Goodison salvation last season – and potentially the facilitators of happier times in this one – the only surprise was the Gwladys Street resisting the temptation to sing, ‘Can we play you every week?’
