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| Junior Stanislas 98th-minute strike earned Bournemouth a point |
EVEN the best soap operas don’t provide as much drama as this – with Bournemouth and Everton sharing the points with a real late, late show.
Ross Barkley looked to have stolen the points for Everton after the Cherries clawed their way back from a two-goal deficit.
But the never-say-die attitude Bournemouth have shown all season finally paid off as Junior Stanislas grabbed an equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Everton looked to be coasting when two first-half goals put them firmly in command – Ramiro Funes Mori planting home a close-range header and Romalu Lukaku hammering in a fierce rising shot.
But in the final 10 minutes the Cherries pounded the visitors and were rewarded with goals from Adam Smith – a sublime shot inside the post – and Stanislas, who was perfectly positioned to lash Joshua King’s cross beyond Tim Howard.
And Bournemouth might even have stolen all three points if referee Kevin Friend hadn’t rejected late a penalty appeal when Brendan Galloway appeared to pull down Smith in the box.
The pulsating clash left both managers breathless.
Cherries boss Eddie Howe said: “I couldn’t believe it with things unfolding so fast – it took Smith’s goal to spark us.
“The most important thing is that we have looked a really good side lately and to score three against Everton is good.
“I would have preferred three points but I’ll just take something.”
And Everton’s Roberto Martinez seemed almost to be in shock as he spoke after the game.
He said: “Sometimes in football you have to accept there are moments that happen that are nearly impossible to explain. We looked to have won the game twice.”
Bournemouth: Federici (Allsop 45), Francis, Cook (Smith 45), Distin, Daniels, Ritchie, Gosling, Surman, Stanislas, Arter (Murray 76), King.
Everton: Howard, Coleman, Stones, Mori, Galloway, McCarthy (Cleverley 68), Barry, Deulofeu (Lennon 86), Barkley, Kone (Gibson 97), Lukaku.
Ref: K Friend.
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