The most complete AFCB Premier League performance ever?

With so many things not quite working with AFC Bournemouth as a club at the moment - the questionable transfer policy and ticketing issues to name but two - it’s good to know that we’ve still got a team on the pitch to be proud of.

This was demonstrated with a performance on Saturday against Everton that was so completely and utterly committed that it almost brought a tear to my eye.

Since all but confirming safety in March last season I’ve had to see my side lollop their way through so many games with no real pace or fizz it was becoming a little heartbreaking - especially as the bad run of form from last season seemed to be continuing into this campaign.

It wasn’t the team I knew and loved, with the intensity and pressing game that got us so much success in recent years completely absent. It was like watching a tennis player attempt to win a match without a racquet in their hands.

So the way we played against the Toffees this weekend wasn’t just brilliant, but also a huge relief that we can still compete in this division - and that Eddie Howe still has the knack of getting the very best from a group of players that have so often been labelled as not good enough for the top level.

From the first minute to the last we swarmed over an Everton team loaded with talent, and they simply couldn’t handle it. Their increasing frustration - from Ashley Williams smashing his fists into the turf to Ross Barkley constantly looking for someone to shout at - was quite a wonderful sight.

This was a team that was unbeaten in the league this season heading into this game remember, yet they were lucky to get in at half time only one goal behind against us.

From the first minute when Callum Wilson headed narrowly wide it was clear to all that we were up for the fight, and unlike our perhaps meek surrender at the Etihad last week were ready to battle tooth and nail for a result.

After missing several gilt-edged chances I was concerned we would never convert our dominance into a goal, but Junior Stanislas seems to live for matches against Everton - and subsequently belted one in from 25 yards. Which was nice.

What made the display truly ‘complete’ was the fact it wasn’t purely about our high work-rate and pressing though. Some of our movement and passing was sublime, with Harry Arter, Jack Wilshere, and Andrew Surman often combining to devastating effect in midfield.

Then there was a defensive solidity that we have rarely seen consistently across an entire match this campaign, with Simon Francis and Steve Cook playing Romelu Lukaku perfectly - dropping off him when needed. Considering he’s the type of aerial threat that we always struggle against this was great to see.

In the second half we often struggled to hold on the ball for long periods too, but the defence and midfield worked so hard to make sure we maintained our slender advantage.

When Everton did create their best chances - and with the quality they possess that was always going to happen - they found a goalkeeper in inspired form. Artur Boruc made one of the best saves seen at Dean Court in the first half to deny Lukaku, and then did well to keep out a cross-cum-shot from Gerard Deulofeu in the second.

In a game of such completeness you might think it would be hard to pick a man of the match - but that was not actually the case, with Harry Arter putting in a display of such aggression and skill that it would be remiss not to mention it. The cliché ‘covering every blade of grass’ is often overused, but it was fitting here. He seemed to teleport from nowhere so often to make decisive blocks and passes that it was getting spooky near the end, and it was a performance that even a standing ovation couldn’t do justice.

From this game it seems like the old AFC Bournemouth are back, and I couldn’t be happier. I’ve missed them.