Everton extended Abdoulaye Doucouré’s contract earlier this week and the midfielder repaid them by extending their residence in the top flight of English football into a 70th year. The midfielder struck a quite superb goal to seal the victory Sean Dyche’s team desperately needed over Bournemouth to avoid a first relegation since 1951.
It was a nerve-racking finish at Goodison Park, where 10 minutes of added time, an injury to Jordan Pickford’s hand and the stubborn refusal of Gary O’Neil’s side to go quietly combined for a chaotic end to the season. When it was finally over, Doucouré etched his name alongside Barry Horne, Graham Stuart and Gareth Farrelly as Everton last-day saviours and Dyche had completed a fine achievement with an imbalanced squad that has spent the majority of the campaign without a proven goalscorer.
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