Iwobi's Everton survive at the expense of Iheanacho and Ndidi Leicester
FOOTBALL Iwobi's Everton survive at the expense of Iheanacho and Ndidi Leicester

Iwobi's Everton survive at the expense of Iheanacho and Ndidi Leicester

Faruq Ibrahim • 18:36 - 28.05.2023

The Merseyside derby was renewed for the 2023/24 Premier League season, as Everton clinch survival in dramatic fashion.

Everton reprised scenes from last season as they clinched Premier League survival in dramatic fashion after a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth. 

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The Toffees hosted the Cherries at Goodison Park with their destiny in their hands. They had to win to continue in the English top flight next season, and despite a scare, they pulled it off, just about.  

The stakes 

Despite starting the game outside the relegation places, Sean Dyche's side had little margin for error, as losing could see them drop back down depending on results elsewhere. 

Everton were on 33 points, two points above Leeds and Leicester City. They needed to win or better the result of Leicester at least, as the Foxes had a better goal difference. 

How it happened

They faced a Cherries side who had nothing but pride to play for, and it was evident in the first-half as Everton had the bulk of the ball; however, they did not manage to find the back of the net. 

The start of the second-half was a more cagey affair, as Everton scaled down but soon intensified their efforts. 

Abdoulaye Doucoure was quick to the draw as he fired past Mark Travers in goal for Bournemouth in the 57th minute of the game. 

What followed was a period of scares for the crowd at Goodison Park as Bournemouth threatened an equaliser, but the hosts held their own.  

Several stops in the game, including an injury to Demarai Gray, meant 10 minutes were added on, but the hosts remained unbroken as they confirmed their place in the Premier League next season.

This meant the Nigerian duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho have suffered the ignominy of being relegated from the Premier League to the EFL Championship with Leicester City despite a win over West Ham in the last league game of the season.

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