At first there was silence. Deathly, funereal silence. In Goodison Park’s poky dressing room, Everton’s players sat with heads bowed, stunned at what had transpired.
With 87 minutes gone, they had looked set for a morale-boosting first victory of the season in front of a delighted, raucous crowd, leading a tepid Bournemouth by two goals to nil.
In the stands, some believed this was the best performance they had seen from those in blue shirts for three or four years.
What happened in the next nine minutes was the stuff of nightmares. Three goals conceded and three points surrendered thanks to a barely believable collapse.
Back in the changing room, the players were left wondering what on earth had happened. Slowly, the more experienced members of Sean Dyche’s devastated side began to speak up. Insiders say Seamus Coleman and James Tarkowski were among those trying to lift what was a desperately sombre mood.
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Everton thought they had secured a first victory of the season before Bournemouth scored three goals in nine minutes
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The message from the manager was a simple one. This was not a game which should have ended in defeat.
The view from some of the older heads was that the team had taken their foot off the pedal and failed to do the basics properly.
Everton 2-3 Bournemouth: Toffees capitulate having led 2-0 on 87 minutes to pile pressure on Dyche
But there was also a keenness to move on and to keep things on an even keel. Dyche is not one to get carried away with wins or losses. Those who know him say he is never too up or too down, and he ensures that when there is a rollicking to be given, it is delivered with maximum impact. The season is three games in and slow starts are nothing new at Everton.
The bemusement would later spill over to the players’ lounge. ‘Everyone was sombre,’ said one insider. ‘Almost like there had been a bereavement. A lot of the players sat there in silence. The football was on the TVs but nobody was watching.’
As the international break came straight after the chastening defeat, the chance to put things right must wait. Players are away until Monday, given time off following a typically gruelling pre-season.
Dyche is understood to have found sanctuary on the golf course. The group work to a pre-prepared schedule handed out at least a month in advance and that does not change. The squad appreciate being able to plan and know what time they will have to themselves, but it may be a challenge not to dwell on the Bournemouth defeat.
Bournemouth players celebrated what was one of the club’s craziest victories against Everton last time out.
Everton captain Seamus Coleman (right) is amongst those said to have tried to lift spirits in the dressing room after the Bournemouth defeat.
The long-suffering folk in the Gwladys Street End would tell you that such a calamity could only happen to Everton. And they may have a point. While what they had witnessed may have been a car crash, their club is the motor that cannot be sold.
