A second half onslaught earned Everton a much-needed win over Bournemouth.

Marco Silva’s side had laboured during the opening 45 minutes of Sunday’s encounter with only Ademola Lookman offering any real promise for the hosts.

But the Blues struck back after the interval as Kurt Zouma opened the scoring with a bullet header from compatriot Lucas Digne’s cross into the Cherries’ box.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin safeguarded the victory in stoppage time when he pounced on a Lookman cut-back to ensure the points stayed on Merseyside.

Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park:

Lookman finally seizes his opportunity

 

False dawns have been a recurring theme of Ademola Lookman’s Everton career.

Marco Silva continued to overlook strong arguments for a regular first-team run while the forward did himself little favour when presented with opportunities.

But Lookman appears to have finally seized the initiative. He was head and shoulders above his Blues teammates in a relatively dismal first half showing.

Bournemouth struggled to contain him after the interval, too, and made to pay for affording him space and time to tee up Dominic Calvert–Lewin in stoppage time.

On this form, Silva will struggle to leave the 21-year-old out of his starting line-up.

Silva showcases ruthless streak

 

In a week where he had to not only talk like an Everton manager but also act like one, Silva came up trumps with a ruthless streak on and off the pitch.

His side had failed to register a shot on target in the first half of a second straight Premier League home game as Goodison teetered on the brink of revolt.

Whatever the Portuguese coach unleashed upon the dressing room in the wake of that lacklustre opening 45 minutes clearly had the desired effect.

Everton flew out of the traps and fought for everything that came their way. Even Silva allowed himself to be caught up in it, routinely berating the match officials.

Maybe the latest incumbent is not the soft touch that many had categorised him.

Blues just about walk the line

 

Defending a one-goal lead and five minutes of added time is the last thing Goodison’s frayed nerves needed against a dogged Bournemouth side.

Matters were worsened by three players still on the pitch walking a disciplinary tightrope, with Michael Keane, Kurt Zouma and Andre Gomes all on bookings.

Admittedly two-thirds of the contingent were unfortunate to be on the receiving end of referee Anthony Taylor’s overzealous reaction to their emotive responses.

Gomes could have justifiably been made to walk for a series of challenges in the moments building up to Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s strike that assured victory.

More than most, the Portuguese midfielder walked the line. He got away with it but other officials may not be as willing to look the other way at Taylor belatedly did.

Digne continues to prove his worth

 

Gary Lineker knows a thing or two about true footballing quality, which is why the one-time Everton marksman’s opinions are always worth nothing.

In the eyes of the striker turned TV presenter, Lucas Digne is both an ‘excellent signing’ and a ‘quality full-back’. It is difficult to argue with either assertion.

Digne once again led from both ends of the pitch in teeing up Zouma to open the scoring with a neat cross into his compatriot’s path to head home.

He was also instrumental defeinsively in recording Everton’s first clean sheet in nine games, dating back to November’s win over Cardiff City.

That £18 million fee appears to increasingly be money well spent.