Everton vs Bournemouth match report: Leighton Baines scores winner to relieve pressure on Roberto Martinez

Everton 2 Bournemouth 1

Leighton Baines scores for Everton against Bournemouth (Getty)

They cheered his name far and wide around Goodison Park when it was announced just after half-time.

Here was the man to brighten up Everton’s afternoon, to improve their fortunes.

They were celebrating a player who had been unavailable for a full 510 days since his last outing in December 2014.

The man receiving all the acclaim – as opposed to Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who took all the abuse, especially after the final whistle by a smattering of protesters – was none other than Tony Hibbert.

And, with all due respect, if a 35-year-old veteran right-back is the answer, then the current question at Everton is far bleaker than Martinez can ever have feared.

Hibbert’s last first team outing was so long ago, Leicester City were bottom of the Premier League by 10 points.

Whatever happened to them?

Whatever happened to Everton?

Tom Cleverley celebrates scoring for Everton against Bournemouth (Getty)

A banner hanging from a light aircraft - a social media-led idea paid for by disgruntled fans to the tune of £600 - was flown across Goodison Park just before half-time and claimed ‘Time to go Roberto NSNO’ following a season high on promise and low on happiness.

And although this victory, courtesy of goals from Tom Cleverley and Leighton Baines, will save Martinez for now, there is a reason he remains the bookies favourite for the sack.

“I can understand [the protests],” Martinez said.

“We have been through a very painful time. I cannot hide the disappointment for all of us. Not just the fans but the players as well and we want to correct that. I’m the manager of the football club and I’m the one who takes the responsibility. That’s how it works.”

Before the contest, 10 Hillsborough families were welcomed onto the pitch and applauded in the most magnificent manner by all corners of the ground and Cleverley’s seventh minute swivel and 20-yard shot continued the early cheer.

Yet, surprise surprise, it was not long before Everton conceded.

The impressive Callum Wilson, starting again after a long lay-off following a cruciate injury, manoeuvred Everton debutant Matthew Pennington out of the way and his cross was eventually converted by Marc Pugh from six yards out.

Everton were furious with the assistant referee for the way Wilson beat Pennington but the truth is that Everton’s defence is simply not good enough.

Their attackers were not much better here either and Oumar Niasse, making his full debut, looked desperately poor in particular.

Fortunately for Everton, Bournemouth went backwards after their goal and this became the earliest pre-season friendly ever played; a pedestrian, wandering nothing of a game.

Then came Hibbert.

His every touch was cheered and the ironic exhortations to shoot every time he got the ball summed up the mood amongst the home fans, namely that they are virtually past caring this term.

Hibbert’s opposite full-back Baines made the final, critical difference, shooting high into the net when unmarked at the back post after 64 minutes before Everton held on in a fractious, disjointed and entirely joyless finish.

The visitors might not yet be mathematically safe but Eddie Howe’s job is one of the most secure in the Premier League. What Martinez would give to be able to say the same.

"I thought we were worth a point," Howe said. "We want to finish on a high."

TEAMS

Everton (4-2-3-1): Howard 6; Besic 6 (Hibbert 46, 7) Stones 7, Pennington 7, Baines 8; Gibson 7, McCarthy 7; Cleverley 6, Barkley 7 (Dowell 87, 6), Lennon 7; Niasse 6 (Lukaku 60, 6)

Unused substitutes: Robles, Oviedo, Mirallas Osman

Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Boruc 7; Francis 6, Elphick 6, Cook 6, Daniels 6; Ritchie 6, Surman 7; Arter 7, Pugh 7 (Stanislas 68, 6), King 7 (Afobe 68, 6); Wilson 7 (Grabban 78, 7)

Unused substitutes: Federici, Gosling, Wiggins, O’Kane

Referee: Neil Swarbrick 7