Goals from Ramiro Funes Mori and Romelu Lukaku give Everton a 2-0 half-time lead at Bournemouth, as Simon Francis has a late effort cleared off the line for the hosts.

Goals from Ramiro Funes Mori and Romelu Lukaku have given Everton a 2-0 half-time lead at Bournemouth this afternoon.

Everton's Argentinian defender Ramiro Funes Mori celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Everton at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on November 28, 2015 © Getty Images

The hosts started the match positively, and could have taken an early lead when Junior Stanislas set up an effort for Dan Gosling, but the former Toffees midfielder fired wide on the half-volley.

The Cherries continued to dominate the game's early moments, as Matt Ritchie tested Everton keeper Tim Howard with a tame effort, before the American veteran was called into action again moments later to parry a stinging Joshua King effort.

Everton improved from the quarter-hour mark, and Cherries goalkeeper Adam Federici was forced into making a couple of saves in quick succession - denying Arouna Kone after a defensive mix-up, before keeping out a close-range Lukaku header moments later.

Federici's hopes of a clean sheet were ended on 25 minutes, when Funes Mori rose highest at a Ross Barkley corner to net his first goal for the Merseyside club.

Everton doubled their lead 10 minutes later, as Gerard Deulofeu found Lukaku, who found a way past Steve Cook before netting his 10th goal of the season.

Bournemouth came agonisingly close to claiming a goal back before the break, as Simon Francis headed towards the net, only for Everton defender John Stones to clear off the line.