Bournemouth and Everton both had a player sent off in their pulsating 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Everton saw Richarlison sent off in the latter stages of the first period, but led 2-0 in the 66th minute courtesy of efforts from Theo Walcott and Michael Keane early in the second half.
Bournemouth were also reduced to 10 men just past the hour when Adam Smith received his marching orders, but Josh King halved the deficit from the penalty spot in the 75th minute before Nathan Ake levelled four minutes later.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live Premier League coverage continues from the Vitality Stadium as Bournemouth welcome Everton. The Cherries have made a 100% start to the 2018-19 campaign, and will welcome an Everton side who have collected four points from their two Premier League matches this season. Stay tuned for live minute-by-minute coverage of the action!
This afternoon will actually be just the 11th meeting between Bournemouth and Everton in all competitions. Everton have won seven of the previous 10, but Bournemouth recorded a 2-1 victory when they locked horns at the Vitality Stadium last December. In fact, Everton have actually lost on both of their visits to Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Right, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from the Vitality Stadium. Have both managers made changes from their respective matches last weekend? Let's see...
TEAMS!
BOU: Begovic; Smith, Cook, Ake, Daniels; Brooks, Gosling, Surman, Fraser; King, Wilson
EVE: Pickford; Coleman, Holgate, Keane, Baines; Davies, Gueye; Walcott, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Tosun
Bournemouth are unchanged for the third Premier League match in a row, meaning that Dan Gosling and Andrew Surman will again start in the middle of the park. The club's record signing Jefferson Lerma is again on the bench, with Josh King and Callum Wilson continuing as the front two.
As for Everton, head coach Marco Silva has made one change to the team that started the 2-1 win over Southampton last time out - Tom Davies coming in for the injured Morgan Schneiderlin. Andre Gomes and Yerry Mina are still not ready for the Toffees, but Bernard is on the bench. Richarlison, Theo Walcott and Gylfi Sigurdsson will again operate behind centre-forward Cenk Tosun.
So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff at the Vitality Stadium. I shall speak about Everton a little bit later, but let's start with Bournemouth. As mentioned above, the Cherries have made a 100% start to the new season.
Indeed, Eddie Howe's side recorded a 2-0 victory over Cardiff City on the opening weekend of the season before winning 2-1 at West Ham last time out. The Cherries will be looking to make it three from three this afternoon ahead of their League Cup clash with MK Dons next week.
Bournemouth's next Premier League match is away to Chelsea next weekend, before welcoming Leicester City after the September international break. Some had tipped Bournemouth to struggle this season due to their defensive frailties, but it has been a very positive start to the campaign.
There will once again be eyes on Callum Wilson this afternoon, with the 26-year-old making a very positive start to the season. Indeed, the centre-forward has scored against both Cardiff and West Ham, and fancy his chances of enjoying a strong campaign having seemingly put his injury troubles behind him. Wilson is again joined in the Bournemouth attack by King this afternoon.
Everton, meanwhile, opened their campaign with a 2-2 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 11. The Toffees had club captain Phil Jagielka sent off in that match, but still managed to secure a point courtesy of a brace from summer arrival Richarlison, who has made a strong start.
Richarlison was also on the scoresheet in Everton's 2-1 win over Southampton last weekend, and the Brazilian will be looking to register for the third match in a row this afternoon. The Toffees are still waiting for the likes of Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes to be fit, but Richarlison has hit the ground running, and will fancy his chances of causing Bournemouth problems here.
That said, Everton have only won three of their last 28 Premier League away matches. The Toffees will also come up against a Bournemouth side that has earned a Premier League-high 24 points from losing positions since the beginning of the 2017-18 campaign.
PREDICTION! I fancy a score draw at the Vitality Stadium this afternoon. Bournemouth would actually go to the top of the Premier League table with a win, but Everton have been impressive thus far this season, and I expect the Toffees to get something from this match.
Here we go then; both sets of players have joined us on the pitch ahead of kickoff at the Vitality Stadium. Two unbeaten teams lock horns, and it should be a very good game. Stay tuned!
KICKOFF: Everton kick things off at the Vitality Stadium...
... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium this afternoon. This place is absolutely bouncing, and Bournemouth will be looking to feed off their fans here.
Smart play from Bournemouth as Ake releases Fraser, who drives into a wide position before delivering, but Everton manage to clear their lines. Really bright football from the home side.
Fraser continues to cause problems as the winger again gets behind the Everton defence before delivering low, but Holgate makes the clearance once again. Not too much from Everton going forward in the first six minutes, with Bournemouth the team on the front foot early on here.
Bournemouth continue to pass and probe in the final third of the field, but the offside flag has just caught Wilson. The atmosphere inside the stadium is excellent at the moment.
Half-chance for Everton as Keane rises high to meet a corner from Sigurdsson, but the centre-back does not get proper contact on the ball, and Bournemouth can clear their lines.
Daniels is a touch fortunate to get away with a late challenge on Coleman just outside the Bournemouth box. Everton are starting to find their feet here as they quicken the pace.
So, 14 minutes on the clock, and we are still level. Neither team has had a chance of note, but both have had some decent moments in the final third of the field. You do get the feeling that the first goal this afternoon - if there indeed is one - could be crucial. The atmosphere has dropped.
Smart defending from Cook as the Bournemouth centre-back manages to clear a cross from Sigurdsson, which Tosun was close to meeting. Everton looking the most likely at the moment.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Wilson as Fraser finds the striker all alone inside the Everton box, but he somehow curls the ball over the crossbar. Incredible miss from Wilson there!
Concern for Fraser here as he goes down and stays there.
Fraser looks okay despite holding his knee. The Scot should be able to continue here.
Everton are certainly looking the more dangerous at the moment, but the game's outstanding chance has fallen to the home side. We have not seen too much from Richarlison in the opening 21 minutes, and the Brazilian has just lost the ball in a wide position, which allowed Bournemouth to break. Pickford, however, was quick out of his goal to beat King to the through ball.
CLOSE! King heads a Brooks cross over the Everton goal from inside the box.
Another half-chance for Bournemouth as Fraser's direct running again causes problems. King eventually attempts to meet a high ball, but his effort is easily gathered by Pickford.
Wilson again looks to break the Everton line, but the offside flag is raised once again. Everton's defensive line has been pretty good in the first 26 minutes here. Still all square in Bournemouth.
Quite a bitty game at the moment. Everton have just put together a decent move down the right, but the ball bounced back off Walcott before going behind for a Bournemouth goal kick here.
Walcott and Keane get in each other's way at the far post, and the ball bounces out for another Bournemouth goal kick. Really scrappy game at the moment with 30 minutes on the clock.
Little under 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and we are still all square. Bournemouth have had the better chances, but Everton have probably edged the game overall here.
Pass, pass, pass from Everton, but they are not really going anywhere with it.
Smart goalkeeping from Begovic as the Bournemouth goalkeeper punches clear a cross from Coleman. Everton keep the pressure on, but eventually Cook hammers the ball down the field.
Holgate smashes a pass out for a Bournemouth throw, and that just about sums up the first period. It has not been great to be honest, with both teams lacking quality in the final third.
Gueye brings Wilson to the deck and Bournemouth have a free kick in an advanced area...
CHANCE! ... big moment as Ake meets the free kick from Fraser, but the centre-back gets the contact all wrong, and Everton survive what was a very dangerous moment!
RED CARD! RICHARLISON (EVERTON)
Oh my word! Everton are down to 10 men as Richarlison is handed a straight red card for putting his head into Smith. There was some movement from Richarlison, and he is off!
Everton boss Silva looks absolutely furious on the touchline. The Toffees have now had two players sent off in the first two and a half games of the 2018-19 Premier League season.
We are into the first of three additional minutes at the end of the first period.
Everton still look stunned from that red card, with Bournemouth finishing the first period on the front foot. It is going to be another difficult 45 minutes of football for Everton here.
HALF TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 0-0 EVERTON
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. Bournemouth have had the better chances, but Everton were the superior team until the 41st minute, when Richarlison was handed a straight red card for flicking his head into Adam Smith.
STATS! Everton shaded the first-half possession with 59%, while they managed five attempts, but none of those were on target. Bournemouth, meanwhile, had six attempts without testing Pickford between the away side's goal. The quality in the final third has not really been there.
BENCH WATCH! It will be interesting to see whether Silva makes a change at the break having lost Richarlison to that red card. Bernard, Digne, Niasse and Zouma are among those on the Everton bench this afternoon. Bournemouth, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Lewis Cook, Defoe, Ibe and their record signing Jefferson Lerma. Big second half ahead at the Vitality Stadium.
KICKOFF: Bournemouth resume the action on home soil...
... no changes from either side at the break. Everton are pretty much in a 4-4-1 formation now, and that will leave Tosun incredibly isolated in the final third of the field. Game on here.
Both teams have had decent attacks in the early stages of the second period, but the outstanding chance of the match is still that Wilson opportunity in the 16th minute here.
Smart goalkeeping from Pickford as the Everton stopper manages to clear when under pressure from his own player Holgate. Very open game at the moment as the play flows from end to end.
The Everton fans are in fine voice at the moment, and their team certainly need the boost. You do get the feeling that one goal could be enough to win this match. It remains so tight here.
YELLOW CARD! Sigurdsson (Everton) is booked for a foul on Fraser.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 0-1 EVERTON (WALCOTT)
Everton make the breakthrough in the 56th minute! Against the odds, the Toffees take the lead as Walcott breaks into a forward position before finding the back of the net. Begovic probably should have saved it, but it squeezed through the body of the stopper!
Still a lot of football to be played before the afternoon is out, and Bournemouth are the team in possession as we head for the final 30 minutes of action at the Vitality Stadium.
RED CARD! ADAM SMITH (BOURNEMOUTH)
Oh my word! Bournemouth are now down to 10 men, with Smith, who was involved in the Richarlison incident, sent off for tripping Walcott in a wide position. Perhaps a touch harsh!
SAVE! Smart save from Begovic to keep out a free kick from Baines!
SHOT! King's effort from outside the Everton box is not too far away!
BOURNEMOUTH SUB! Ibe replaces Brooks for the home side.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 0-2 EVERTON (KEANE)
Everton double their lead in the 66th minute of this match as Keane's header from a Sigurdsson cross finds its way into the back of the net. Bournemouth switch off from the free kick!
Little over 20 minutes of the second period remaining, and Bournemouth are in trouble.
SAVE! Wilson goes through one-on-one with Pickford, and the Everton stopper saves!
YELLOW CARD! Tosun (Everton) is booked for a foul on Fraser.
PENALTY! Bournemouth have a spot kick as Baines pushes Wilson to the deck!
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 1-2 EVERTON (KING, PEN)
King finds the back of the net and Bournemouth are back in it!
BOURNEMOUTH SUB! Cook replaces Surman for the home side.
Still no movement on the Everton bench, which is a surprise at this stage of the match. You do get the feeling that there is going to be another goal in the final 10 minutes of this one.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 2-2 EVERTON (AKE)
Absolute scenes! Bournemouth level the scores in the 79th minute as Ake converts from close range after Cook's header had hit the post! Incredible turnaround from the home side.
YELLOW CARD! Gueye (Everton) is booked for a foul on Gosling.
EVERTON SUB! Calvert-Lewin replaces Tosun for the away side.
EVERTON SUB! Bernard is on for his Everton debut in place of Walcott.
Little under five minutes of the second period remaining. Is there going to be a fifth goal here? To be honest, a draw is probably about right when considering what has occurred here.
I should imagine that there will be a fair chunk of injury time at the end of this match.
Bournemouth are looking the most likely to score the game's fifth goal at the moment.
SHOT! Gosling's powerful strike from the edge of the box just misses the Everton goal!
We are into the second of six additional minutes at the end of the match. However, Keane and Gueye are both down for Everton here following a collision inside the box.
Gueye is back on his feet, but Keane is in some trouble here.
Keane is still down, and will be leaving on a stretcher here.
Keane is still on the field on the stretcher, and I really hope this is not as serious as it looks.
EVERTON SUB! Zouma replaces Keane for the away side.
We are back underway, and there will still be a few minutes to play here.
Bernard has just shown some nice skill for Everton in a wide position. Cook then fires the ball down the field towards Wilson, but it goes out for a throw to the away side here.
Good defending from Holgate as he smashes clear under pressure from Wilson.
We play on in the 101st minute here. Still 2-2. Not too much happening!
SHOT! Sigurdsson fires over the Bournemouth crossbar from outside the box.
FULL TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 2-2 EVERTON
So there we have it. The referee finally brings the second period to a close with the points being shared in a 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium. What a second half of action! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live commentary once again. Until next time!
