Tarkowski Fires Injury-Time Leveller For Deserved Cherries Point

James Tarkowski fired home an injury-time leveller to earn a deserved point for Everton in a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.

The Toffees looked to be heading for a harsh defeat after being the better team in the first half – creating chances through Jarrad Branthwaite and Thierno Barry – only for Alex Scott's deflected 41st-minute shot to put the hosts ahead.

But David Moyes' side kept plugging away and got their reward with time running out when Tarkowski gained possession from Hayden Hackney's cleared corner to smash a low finish beyond Dorde Petrovic.

The point continued the Toffees' encouraging start to the season following a 2-0 opening-day home win over Crystal Palace, followed by the 4-0 Carabao Cup triumph at Preston North End in midweek.

James Garner returned to the Everton midfield, replacing Hackney as the only change from the success over Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Moyes' men were the better side in the first half and went close to grabbing a 10th-minute lead when Branthwaite flicked on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's corner, only to be denied by a reaction save from Petrovic.

The Cherries keeper somehow kept the scores level 10 minutes later when he spilled Tyrique George's low drive from the edge of the area, only to make amends to block Barry's follow-up from six yards out.

That looked costly when Bournemouth went ahead as half-time approached, Evanilson cutting in from the left to square to Scott, whose shot took a horrible deflection off Vitalii Mykolenko to beat Jordan Pickford.

There was still time for the Blues to rue another missed opportunity when a marauding Branthwaite run allowed Dewsbury-Hall to play in Barry, who drilled his angled finish into the side-netting when well placed.

Everton may have been the stronger team in the first half, but it was Bournemouth who were on top after the break and, as the visitors pushed men forward, it took crucial blocks from substitute Hackney and Mykolenko – producing two sliding challenges in quick succession – to divert goalbound shots.

That was to prove vital, too, as the Toffees left the Vitality Stadium with a point. Hackney's lofted corner didn't look to be threatening but, as Bournemouth struggled to clear, Tarkowski collected the ball and smashed a low shot into the net to send the travelling Blues wild.