Koeman praises hero Oumar Niasse for Everton win

Hosts Everton finally put to an end a run of four consecutive defeats in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against struggling Sunderland, while Bournemouth notched a couple of welcome wins in the double-header against Brighton.

– Only Crystal Palace (0) have scored fewer first-half goals than Bournemouth in the Premier League this season.

“We didn’t create a lot – maybe two penalty situations – it wasn’t enough”, he said. A player signed by Roberto Martinez in the winter transfer window of 2015, he hardly featured under Everton’s ex-manager, and Koeman’s arrival made things no better for the striker.

Bournemouth’s Simon Francis, centre right, collides with Everton’s Wayne Rooney, during the English Premier League soccer match between Everton and Bournemouth, at Goodison Park, Liverpool, England, Saturday Sept. 23, 2017.

But with Everton’s failure to sign an adequate for Romelu Lukaku in the summer Koeman was forced to eat humble pie and recall the striker, a £13.5million signing by Roberto Martinez in February 2016.

“I always keep fighting – it was a hard time for me but I always try my best”, Niasse said.

Eddie Howe insists Bournemouth produced their best performance of the season despite losing 2-1 to Everton at Goodison Park.

The 25-year-old has been quieter in front of goal from the outset of this season, perhaps owing to him adjusting to his new partnership with Defoe. Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round’s Premier League fixtures in our Predictor game. “The boys showed great character”, Koeman told BBCMOTD.

People were surprised when he scored goals for Hull City, and even more surprised as he has started to do the same for Everton, but it’s clear he just needed time to settle in, and a chance.

The competition for the goalkeeping positions in the squad is really intense at the moment.

“Every game is important and you play to win every game, but with the last results, of course we need another win at home”. They have faced both the Manchester sides, Tottenham and Chelsea already and will now be looking to target the weaker sides and get some points under their belt. Asked how good he felt Calvert-Lewin could be, the Dutchman said: ‘That’s all about the future. It has been a whirlwind first couple of months – playing as many games as I have for a new club, being in a hotel for so long and then finally getting settled into my new house.