Everton’s misery at the Vitality Stadium – where they have now failed to win in all eight of their Premier League visits – continued as home substitute David Brooks’ 77th minute strike ended their stubborn resistance in a contest they were on the back foot in for long periods and condemned the Blues to a fifth consecutive loss at Bournemouth in all competitions.

Sean Dyche’s men have now completed half of their Premier League season on just 17 points and with their rivals below them in the table not playing until Sunday, now face a nervous wait to see if they could drop into the relegation zone before the weekend is over.

Everton created virtually nothing in terms of clear cut chances and their starting striker, Armando Broja, on loan from Chelsea, was forced out of the contest through injury just after the half hour mark to be replaced by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

READ MORE: Armando Broja suffers injury setback as another Everton absence explained

READ MORE: Bournemouth vs Everton LIVE - final score, David Brooks goal, Dyche response

Jordan Pickford 8

Did his best to keep Everton in this contest, making a string of impressive saves having been alert early on to get down well and save a close-range effort from Dango Ouattara and has looked assured so far and standing up to deny Justin Kluivert in the first half before getting down low to his right to turn a Dango Ouattara effort around the post after the break.

Ashley Young 6

Set-pieces were a bit hit and miss as he struggled to find his range, but general play was typically canny and moved forward to right midfield in the second half.

Vitalii Mykolenko 5

Looked steadier than he has of late but was generally pinned back to focus on his defensive duties rather than having scope to get forwards and was ultimately the fall guy as Everton’s resistance finally cracked when he left David Brooks to fire in at the back post.

James Tarkowski 7

A really dominant aerial display, leading by example in a backs to the wall display, throwing himself at the ball with bravery on repeated occasions and making a crucial interception on Evanilson early in the second half.

Jarrad Branthwaite 7

Picked up an early booking as he put a ‘reducer’ on Bournemouth striker Evanilson with his first challenge of the game in the centre circle but managed the rest of his game well, making a crucial deflection on an Antoine Semenyo shot before a perfectly-timed interception on the same player.

Idrissa Gueye 6

Had to put out his fair share of fires as Bournemouth’s players continued to probe with the emphasis on his off the ball work and he almost got caught out dithering in possession a couple of times.

Orel Mangala 6

Uncharacteristic loose first touch from a Pickford pass almost played Evanilson in but played his part in building some encouraging attacks before making way at the interval.

Abdoulaye Doucoure 6

Turned 32 on New Year’s Day and has suffered hamstring injuries in both legs over the past year but showed he’s still got a mean turn of pace with a purposeful run to launch an attack while also offering some clever link-up play but little came off and he was booked late on for hauling down Tyler Adams.

Jesper Lindstrom 6

Livelier than Jack Harrison has been of late, he looked more of a threat going forward but was in fits and starts and didn’t re-emerge for the second half.

Iliman Ndiaye 7

Everton’s most creative force on a day when chances were at a premium, he got at Bournemouth’s players with his impressive dribbling in tight areas and cutting inside on numerous occasions.

Armando Broja 6

Produced some lively running early on, putting in a cross from the right, but went down hurt after a shot that Bournemouth captain Lewis Cook blocked and while he soldiered on for several more minutes, he was forced off just after the half-hour mark.

Substitutes

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (on 32 for Broja) 6

Brought on early because of Broja’s injury and with a point to prove after being dropped for the past two matches, he putting himself about and offered plenty of hard running but to no avail.

Nathan Patterson (on 46 for Lindstrom) 6

Offered more energy getting forwards from deep and while he made a strong challenge on Evanilson to snuff out danger, he needs to get tighter when marking.

Harrison Armstrong (on 46 for Mangala) 7

Lively second half display in tough circumstances from the Scouse teenager who put himself about in the engine room and offered energy pushing forwards.

Beto (on 81 for Gueye)

Late cameo but no Vitality Stadium goal for him on this occasion.