FA Cup: The Confectionery Cup Tie

Everton vs Bournemouth

Now here’s an FA Cup for those with a sweet tooth. Ok, so this SBOTOP writer is going all clichéd on this one, but a meeting between Everton and Bournemouth is effectively a clash between the Toffees and the Cherries so cut me a bit of slack.

With both sides in a rich vein of form, we could be in for some FA Cup 2025 highlights too.

 

Talking Points

Both teams have enjoyed a pretty successful time of late and returning Everton manager David Moyes and his Bournemouth compatriot Andoni Iraola can be pleased with their progress, even if the January transfer window has not delighted either.

You could say the Merseysiders offset the loss of Orel Mangala to a season-ending knee injury by signing the attacking midfielder Carlos Alcaraz on loan from Flamengo with an option to buy. However, PSR constraints and a lack of proven and available options thwarted numerous attempts to strengthen in attack.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin out injured, it means Moyes must do with effectively one fit striker, Beto, for the next month. Dwight McNeil is also sidelined, but James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam have returned from injuries over the past week or so and could make the squad, while don’t be surprised if Alcaraz is handed his debut.

As for Bournemouth, they were hoping to bring in cover up front too with Evanilson and Enes Unal sidelined for the long term. Yet Iraola ended up with two promising defenders instead in Julio Soler and Matai Akinmboni.

But for more clinical finishing, they would have taken points against the red half of Merseyside last weekend. Dango Ouattara has been filling in as a makeshift striker and has done well but the squad is clearly stretched with Luis Sinisterra, Adam Smith, and Marcos Senesi amongst their other absentees. Perhaps a cup exit will help them concentrate on vying for a European berth in the league.

But even with limited resources, the character of the Cherries has not been in any doubt all season and they will be keen to ensure this is the final ever FA Cup tie at this grand old stadium.

 

History

Earlier this season when these sides met at Goodison, four minutes remained, and home fans were in good voice as they led 2-0 against Bournemouth. At that point, manager Sean Dyche’s only complaint would be that his side’s two-goal advantage scarcely did justice to their dominance.

What followed was unbelievable as the Cherries scored three times in nine chaotic minutes to spark joyous scenes among visiting players and supporters. Outplayed throughout, Iraola could scarcely believe what he had seen at the final whistle.

Antoine Semenyo’s tap-in from Ouattara’s left-wing cross to make it 2-1 looked little more than a consolation for the visitors, who trailed to second-half goals from Michael Keane and Calvert-Lewin. Instead, it signalled a complete capitulation from the hosts, who were suddenly left holding on for a point when Sinisterra crossed for Cherries captain Lewis Cook to level two minutes into added time.

But still, there was more as the Toffees crumbled to their third consecutive defeat when another delivery, this time from Justin Kluivert on the left, was nodded in by Sinisterra to give Bournemouth the sweetest of victories.

The incredible turnaround ensured Everton became the first club in Premier League history to lose a game after having a two-goal advantage in the 87th minute. That was only the Cherries’ second ever victory at Goodison Park, but they have actually won seven of their last nine meetings.

Of course, they met a month ago on the south coast when David Brooks scored the only goal of the game 13 minutes from time a – a match which proved to be Dyche’s final game in charge of the Toffees.

The Cherries have actually won their last three games against Everton because last season they won their league meeting on the south coast as a last-minute own goal won the day – all this after Beto looked to have earned the Toffees a point with an 87^th minute equaliser to Dominic Solanke’s opener.

The last time they met in the FA Cup was a fifth-round tie in 2016 when Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku were on target in a 2-0 Everton win.

Overall, Everton have 10 victories in total to Bournemouth’s nine and two draws. They had only actually met once until 1985 – that was a 1937 FA Cup third round tie at Goodison when Everton ran out 5-0 winners against the then named Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic.

The great Dixie Dean played in that encounter, but you may well be surprised to hear he wasn’t on the scoresheet. That accolade went to Alex Stevenson (two), Torrance Gillick (two), and Jim Cunliffe.

 

Betting Tip

Our FA Cup 2025 betting odds makes the Cherries slight favourites, priced 1X2 @ 2.28 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.07.

The Toffees are on offer 1X2 @ 2.70 and Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.08. A draw @ 3.19 is appealing, even though I realise the tie has to be settled on the day. Likewise, another narrow Bournemouth success will pay out @ 8.80 with Correct Score 0-1.

I think there will be goals in this tie and the obvious bets are Over 2.75 or Total Goals 2-3, both offering odds of @ 2.00.

Total Goals 4-6 @ 3.09 is an attractive bet too, and so I am going to go a bit gung-ho and edge towards that as my tip.

   

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