Prince Rupert's Tower
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Everton get back to winning ways

By Matt Townsend

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 13: Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton (2R) celebrates with Ademola Lookman and team mates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and AFC Bournemouth at Goodison Park on January 13, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 13: Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton (2R) celebrates with Ademola Lookman and team mates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Everton FC and AFC Bournemouth at Goodison Park on January 13, 2019 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /
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So after a dismal run of form at home recently, Everton finally returned to winning ways at Goodison Park seeing off Bournemouth 2-0 this afternoon.

But this was a far from routine win for Everton. In fact Bournemouth were much the better side for the majority of the first half carving out several good chances, which fortunately they didn’t take.

The Blues were better in the second half and eventually scored via a Lucas Digne cross which was headed home powerfully by Kurt Zouma.

And despite a nervy last few minutes, late substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealed the points with a goal in injury-time.

Marco Silva gave Seamus Coleman a start again at right-back and kept to a back-four with Zouma partnering Michael Keane in the centre of defence. The Everton boss also gave Ademola Lookman a start in attack.

However once again the Toffees laboured to get going and were outplayed for long periods and far too easily. The Cherries though are also low on confidence and they failed to take control of the game as they should have done.

The Blues also came off worse at the hands of the referee again picking up five yellow cards in the game.

In the end the Toffees managed to get a vital win although it’s only moved the Blues one place higher in the table.

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But to be honest this victory only further highlights the problems the team have. From a shaky defence to a sluggish and missfiring attack there is still much room for improvement.

The decline in the form of players like Gylfi Sigurdsson is also a real concern. The Icelander was in excellent form earlier in the season pulling the strings and was one of the side’s best performers. But since scoring against Spurs in that 2-6 debacle, he hasn’t found the net or created a goal.

The form of key players like Sigurdsson will be crucial to Everton’s season. the Toffees have a long way to go if this season isn’t going to be yet another campaign that ends in mid-table mediocrity.