AFC Bournemouth: Cherries finally confirm Premier League status

Eddie Howe's team had been hoping to put to bed any lingering doubts and looked set to cross the finishing line at Goodison Park.

But a late penalty from former Cherries loan star Jermain Defoe for Sunderland earned them a 1-1 draw at Stoke and kept the permutations alive for the bottom four for a brief spell.

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LIVE: The match as it happened

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However, Norwich's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal in the 5.30 kick-off secured the Dorset club's place at the top table for next season.

Tom Cleverley broke the deadlock for Everton with a finely-taken seventh-minute opener, finishing low past Artur Boruc after a neat turn on the edge of the box.

But Cherries hit back within 120 seconds when Marc Pugh bagged his fifth goal of the season from close range as Everton protested in vain for a foul.

The Toffees felt Callum Wilson had shoved Matthew Pennington in the build up to the goal but referee Neil Swarbrick saw nothing wrong with the challenge.

However, the pendulum swung back in Everton’s favour when Baines restored their lead midway through the second half with an emphatic finish.

Wilson was handed his first start for seven months as Cherries boss Howe made three changes following the 4-1 defeat by Chelsea.

Wilson, restricted to three substitute appearances since returning from a serious knee injury earlier this month, partnered Joshua King in attack.

Midfielder Harry Arter also earned a recall having been plagued by a persistent Achilles problem, while winger Matt Ritchie also returned.

The trio replaced Dan Gosling, Junior Stanislas and Lewis Grabban, who were all named on the bench.

Cleverley opened the scoring for Everton when he found the bottom corner of Boruc’s net from the first meaningful attack after just seven minutes.

The midfielder gave Simon Francis the slip with a neat turn on the edge of the 18-yard box before letting fly with a low, left-foot strike which gave Boruc no chance.

But the hosts’ lead lasted barely two minutes as Cherries levelled in controversial fashion, with Everton convinced Wilson had fouled in the lead up.

However, referee Swarbrick saw nothing wrong as Wilson showed great strength to outmuscle Pennington before racing clear down the right wing.

And after his cross had eventually found its way to Pugh at the far post, the Lancastrian’s shot was too hot to handle for Toffees goalkeeper Tim Howard, who could only parry it into the net.

Cleverley lifted another shooting chance high over the crossbar before Darron Gibson charged down Ritchie’s 25-yard piledriver.

Steve Cook headed wide from the resultant corner, while Ross Barkley’s mazy run through the middle ended with him blazing over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Boruc saved the day when he hared off his line to make a top-drawer stop from Barkley after the England midfielder had been set free by Muhamed Niasse’s through ball.

And Niasse then poked narrowly wide of the upright after getting on the end of a Leighton Baines corner as the first half drew to a close.

King went close to firing Cherries ahead when his 25-yard strike flashed inches past the post after 59 minutes.

And although Wilson burst through and forced an excellent save from Howard, referee Swarbrick awarded a goal kick to Everton.

The hosts regained the lead after 64 minutes when Baines drove the ball high into the roof of the net after arriving to meet a cross from the right by Lennon.

And Boruc had to be alert to snaffle a low drive by Lennon as Everton went in search of a quick third.

A double substitution saw Afobe and Stanislas replace King and Pugh after 68 minutes.

The switch almost paid dividends when Afobe took aim just minutes after coming off the bench, only to see his shot bravely blocked by Pennington.

A cross from Stanislas flew past the upright before the same player ballooned a good opportunity over the crossbar following a good move in the 77th minute.

Afobe squandered a gilt-edged chance to level when he headed over the top after Wilson had done superbly to provide a cross from the right.

Ritchie’s thunderous drive in the closing stages was narrowly off target as Cherries looked for a late leveller.

Everton: Howard, Besic (Hibbert, h-t), Pennington, Stones, Baines, Gibson, McCarthy, Barkley (Dowell, 87), Cleverley, Lennon, Niasse (Lukaku, 60).

Unused subs: Oviedo, Mirallas, Osman, Robles (g/k). Booked: Gibson.

Cherries: Boruc, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels, Ritchie, Arter, Surman, Pugh (Stanislas, 68), Wilson (Grabban, 78), King (Afobe, 68).

Unused subs: Gosling, Wiggins, O’Kane, Federici (g/k).

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Preston).