Everton claimed their first home win of the season by beating Bournemouth 3-0 at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Toffees secured a 2-0 lead at half time courtesy of strikes from James Garner and Jack Harrison, who was making his first Premier League start since joining on loan from Leeds United for the campaign, before Abdoulaye Doucoure sealed the hosts' win after the break.
Garner scored his first league goal for Everton when pouncing on Illia Zabarnyi's slip, with the former Manchester United midfielder crisply finishing beyond the reach of Neto from just inside the box to settle the nerves of the home supporters.
Ashley Young, who turned 38 years old in July, illustrated Everton's early aggression by being booked for a foul on Dango Ouattara, while goalscorers Doucoure and Garner continued to hound the Cherries into countless mistakes with their superb pressing.
As such, it was little surprise when Sean Dyche's side doubled their lead eight minutes prior to the break, with Neto making an absolute mess of a corner. The ball bounced out to Harrison, who showed tremendous composure to lob the former Roma goalkeeper, with his perfectly judged effort bouncing over the line from the underside of the bar.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin continued to prove his full fitness after recently recovering from yet another injury, with the England striker giving his opposing defenders a torrid time with his searing pace and physicality. The 26-year-old almost made it three, but his header from Young's cross crashed against the bar and away to safety, with referee David Coote blowing for half time shortly afterwards.
Everton were straight at it in the second half, with Doucoure racing clear of the Bournemouth defence, but the Mali midfielder was thwarted by Neto for the second time in the match.
However, Doucoure was not to be denied his second goal of the season, with Dwight McNeil finding Harrison with a well-placed cross, and Doucoure mopping up the rebound in cool fashion.
The former Watford midfielder scored his side's crucial goal against Bournemouth to ensure Everton's survival on the final day of last season, which was the only time Dyche's side had avoided defeat in any of their last seven league games at Goodison Park prior to this weekend's clash.
Bournemouth's defeat leaves them second-bottom in the table heading into the international break, while Everton have established a little bit of breathing space with a three-point cushion ahead of the relegation zone.
Brett Curtis
