Gary Neville wowed by what Abdoulaye Doucoure did in Everton win v Bournemouth live on Sky Sports
Garry Neville was left astonished by Abdoulaye Doucoure’s wonder strike in the 1-0 win for Everton against Bournemouth at Goodison Park (28 May).
Sean Dyche’s Toffees side staved off relegation on the final day of the season for a second successive year, with Leeds United and Leicester City joining Southampton in the Championship for next season.
With the game still goalless after 56 minutes and the Foxes leading against West Ham 1-0 at the time, Doucoure latched onto a bouncing ball brilliantly on the edge of the area, sending the ball beyond a hopeless Mark Travers.
As shared on the Sky Sports live blog, Neville was left watching in awe as the Goodison Park crowd erupted after the midfielder’s goal.
“Goosebumps,” he said. [28 May, 17:48]
“The slight deflection on the way through helps Doucoure but my word, it helps Everton Football Club more.
“This gantry is rocking like no gantry I’ve been in before. This ground is shaking.”
Wow
Everton never do it the easy way, do they?
Even in the clash against the Cherries, Dyche’s side were nowhere near their best, struggling to carve open many chances of note in the final third and having to rely on a moment of magic instead.
And if any player was to step up to the occasion, it had to be Doucoure.
The 30-year-old has been Everton’s standout player in recent months, with standout performances against Brighton and now Bournemouth when the pressure was highest.
The turnaround from the Doucoure that was languishing around Goodison Park at Christmas time is scarcely believable.
After having a dressing room spat with previous manager Frank Lampard, the midfielder has worked his socks off to firstly get himself back into the first-team mix and secondly have such a decisive impact on the fight against relegation.
What a strike and what a way to seal the club’s Premier League safety.