Stephen Warnock has praised Jack Harrison for the quality of his goal for Everton at home to AFC Bournemouth. But he also slams Neto’s decision-making this Saturday.
The Toffees put on a real show at Goodison Park with the visit of the Cherries. James Garner (8’) gave Sean Dyche’s side the perfect start with a cool finish. Harrison (37’) and Abdoulaye Doucoure (60’) then stretched Everton’s lead over Bournemouth on either side of the break.
Harrison’s effort late in the first period also marked his first with the Toffees after moving to Merseyside this summer. Everton and Leeds United agreed to a season-long loan transfer in August. The 26-year-old’s deal also includes an option for the Blues to buy the Stoke native.
Harrison enthralled Warnock as Everton faced Bournemouth
Dyche had to bide his time to play Harrison after joining Everton whilst still recovering from a hip injury. It kept the former England Under-21 international out of action until the end of September. But Harrison proved at home to Bournemouth why Everton sought his services.
Neto elected to try and punch another cross into the box. But the ball fell kindly for Harrison to move Everton 2-0 ahead against Bournemouth from the edge of the area. He thundered a looping effort into the top-left corner to enthral Warnock, who Neto also left with questions.
“Neto should do better for the first cross,” Warnock said on the BBC’s Final Score. “If I’m a defender, I am shouting at him to come and claim the ball. Why are you punching it there?
“Then the second ball comes in, he goes for the punch again, and instead collides with his own defender. Let the defender deal with it! Take nothing away from Harrison. [He] spots the ‘keeper off his line, out of position, and [it is] a wonderful lofted finish into the net.”
Dyche will hope a goal against Bournemouth is just the start
Everton will hope Harrison’s goal at home to Bournemouth marks the start of a prosperous partnership. The forward offered a regular threat in the final third throughout his time with Leeds. He also scored at least five goals in every Premier League term spent at Elland Road.
Harrison even offered eight goals in each of his first two top-flight terms with the Whites in 2020/21 and 2021/22. His output dropped to five goals as Leeds endured relegation during 2022/23. Yet the attacker still laid on seven assists, just Alex Iwobi (8) offered Everton more.
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