Everton manager Roberto Martinez has been given some breathing room after his side’s winless run stopped after seven games thanks to a 2-1 triumph over Bournemouth at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Tom Cleverley gave the Toffees an early lead, but two minutes later, Marc Pugh equalised for Bournemouth, who have all but retained their Premier League status.
Against the run of play, Leighton Baines managed to score what would be the winner for Everton, who remain 11th in the table, while the Cherries have recorded three defeats in a row.
The home side had the perfect start when Cleverley put them a goal to the good in the seventh minute.
The midfielder received the ball off a square pass from Ross Barkley before driving past the defender and drilling a left-footed shot into the far post.
Bournemouth responded immediately, though, when Joshua King’s scuffed effort dropped to Pugh, who sent the ball in between the legs of goalkeeper Tim Howard to nab a ninth-minute goal.
After equalising, Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth team looked like the better side as their passing was slicker, while Everton struggled to cause trouble in their opponents’ half.
At the stroke of half-time, Martinez, whose future has reportedly been discussed by the Everton board, received a message from the supporters when a plane carrying a banner, which read ‘TIME TO GO ROBERTO’, flew over Goodison.
After the break, Everton improved on the ball and it took a brave block from Steve Cook to deny the home side a decent scoring opportunity.
A matter of minutes later, Baines was celebrating Everton’s second goal of the game when he received the ball after Aaron Lennon cut the ball across from the right flank. The left-back then drilled a well-hit shot past Boruc, who was nowhere near it.
Bournemouth committed men forward in the closing stages of the match, but Everton were able to keep out their opponents and record a much-needed win.
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