Paul Merson cannot believe Demarai Gray in Everton clash v Bournemouth on Sky Sports
Paul Merson could not believe his eyes after Everton attacker Demarai Gray had an effort saved by Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers in the Premier League clash at Goodison Park.
The Toffees eventually secured their Premier League status for next season with a gritty 1-0 win over the Cherries in front of their home faithful thanks to an Abdoulaye Doucoure wonder strike.
Speaking live on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (28 May), Merson was stunned by the opportunity for the Toffees to take the lead through Gray in the final day of the season showdown.
“People can’t believe it, there’s bad defending all of a sudden,” he said (17:40).
“The goalkeeper doesn’t know whether to come, Gray just comes in, he knicks it, four or five yards out, he heads it straight at the goalkeeper.”
Great escape complete
Although Gray missed the opportunity to give Everton an earlier lead against the Cherries, at the end of an emotion-packed day, this moment will be forgotten.
The headlines will go to Doucoure and his brilliant solo goal, which secured the pivotal victory on the last day of the season.
However, despite surviving relegation by the skin of their teeth, this should be a lesson to Everton going forward that this simply can’t happen again.
The Toffees have been in safe hands under Dyche this season, but the fact that the Englishman was forced to play without a proper striker in a must-win clash says it all.
Everton shouldn’t have to rely on the likes of Doucoure and Gray to score goals all season long, and the club must invest heavily in this department during the summer transfer window.
This opportunity for Gray was an example of the lack of predatory finishers within the Everton squad, and this simply has to change ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League season.