Published: 21:45, 10 February 2026 | Updated: 21:45, 10 February 2026

With an hour on the clock, Everton sat sixth in the table, above city rivals Liverpool and closer to leaders Arsenal than the relegation zone.

They were 30 minutes from hitting the fabled safety zone of 40 points, prompting fans to start dreaming of the jaunts and haunts of European football that could soon await if they continued this form.

But they were soon brought crashing back down to earth as an eight-minute catastrophic spell halted any talk of a continental tour.

Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half penalty was cancelled out by a cheap Rayan header on 61 minutes before fellow winger Amine Aldi put Bournemouth ahead on 64.

Four minutes after that, Everton defender Jake O’Brien was sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Three points were in their grasp and then, bang, they were gone.

David Moyes threw his hands in the air in frustration as the experienced boss knew this was a golden chance tossed away, while striker Thierno Barry sat with his head in his hands on the substitutes bench,...