Bournemouth vs Everton match report: Junior Stanislas' first-half strike ends Toffees' unbeaten start

Bournemouth 1 Everton 0: Ronald Koeman's men came crashing back down to earth after a promising start life under the Dutchman as they suffered defeat on the south coast

Stanislas celebrates scoring the only goal of the game (Getty)

Everton fans were brought back to earth as, on a day when their team could have gone top of the league for the first time in almost a decade, they deservedly lost to a stunning goal from Junior Stanislas at Bournemouth.

Stanlislas’ 23rd minute strike from 25 yards sealed a 1-0 victory for the south coast side which gave them the honour of being the first team to beat Ronald Koeman’s Everton in the Premier League this season.

A fast start to the campaign at Goodison, together with a new manager, new new owners and a new influx of money, had raised expectations for the Toffees to almost unprecedented levels. But this performance, together with a 2-0 home defeat against Norwich in the EFL Cup in midweek, perhaps hints at further work for Koeman to do as he bids to turn around an underachieving side.

Everton could feasibly had gone top of the table (for the first time since the opening weeks of the 2007-8 season) had they won at the Vitality Stadium and Manchester City failed to clinch victory at Swansea; but in the end neither result went the right way and Koeman's side slipped out of the top three.

“Maybe it gives some reality,” admitted Koeman. “We know we will not win every game, it’s the Premier League. And Bournemouth are really a good team, they will not fight against relegation that’s for sure.

“But it wasn’t good enough. They were by far the better team in the first half. You can't win if you play like we did in the first half. We lost every second ball, we lost every battle.”

Lukaku and Barkley sum up Everton's afternoon (Getty)

This fixture produced a 3-3 thriller last season when Bournemouth scored a dramatic equaliser in the 98th minute to earn a point, and it was all action again one year on – although on this occasion it was the home side who provided almost all the drama.

The lung-busting performance of midfielder Harry Arter typified Bournemouth’s energy and character – covering every inch of the pitch and giving so much to the cause that he almost collapsed at the final whistle.

“I don't like to talk individuals but I have to comment on him," said Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, whose team move up to 13th in the table. "He covered every blade of grass. The passion and desire he showed was at the highest level and technically he was very good as well. But to a man I thought we were absolutely brilliant. It was an outstanding performance against a very good team.”

Ironically, despite their manager’s comments, Everton created the first big chance of the match when Romelu Lukaku’s header from a deep free-kick producing a stunning save at full stretch from Cherries keeper Artur Boruc.

Perhaps things could have been different if that opportunity had been taken; but it is far to say the home side more then deserved the 1-0 lead they took into the break; and in reality they always looked the most likley winners.

Wilshere was happy with his display, despite being substituted (Getty)

Bournemouth produced six shots on target in the first 20 minutes alone, not including a deflected shot from Jack Wilshere which cannoned back off the crossbar on his first home start for the club he joined on loan from Arsenal, and eventually the pressure told when winger Stanlisas curled home a spectacular effort from 25 yards, unchallenged it has to be said, to give the home team a 1-0 lead.

Gareth Barry did reply with a shot from distance of his own, tipped over the bar by Boruc, but Bouremouth striker Calum Wilson was causing huge problems for the Everton defence and Howe's side always seemed one yard quicker to the ball than their opponents.

Koeman’s side did improve organisationally after the break when Ross Barkley sendt a powerful header narrowly wide and substitute Enner Valencia almost bundled in an undeserved equaliser.

But Bournemouth held out pretty comfortably in the end, with Arter’s energy and drive typifying their greater spark and intensity.

Wilshere, too, made a contribution, and although he was substituted after 75 minutes, which means he still hasn’t played 90 minutes in a club match for two years, Howe was happy with his performance.

“We've increased Jack’s training time and that was reflected in his performance,” he said. “We want to keep him fit and on the pitch and if we can do that then he'll be a very good player for us. The team benefits from having him in there. Our midfield was very good today - and he played a big part in it.”