Everton will still be in the Premier League next season after Abdoulaye Doucoure scored a stunning goal which put them 1-0 up against Bournemouth.
Victory at Goodison Park was plenty for Everton in the Premier League but a nervous home side struggled to destroy their opponents in a tense first half.
With the crowd distraught, and the result going nowhere, Doucoure stepped up in what proved to be the winner in the 57th minute.
There were plenty of worrying moments for the home fans at the end of the game but Everton held on to finish in 17th place, two points above Leicester City in 18th.
“We are very happy,” Doucoure told the BBC. “It’s difficult to describe how we feel. We fought all season to compete and save the club. This afternoon we gave everything. It wasn’t our best game but we gave everything and got the result.
“We work and play for Everton football club. We have to be much better than that. We need to realize the mistakes we made this season. Everyone showed enthusiasm in the end, but next season we have to come back stronger and put Everton in a better position. higher.”
Everton are no strangers to thrilling drama to ensure survival on the final day of the league season having done so twice during the 1990s.
Bournemouth looked like the ideal opponents, but the south coast side travel to Merseyside looking for a fourth successive win at Goodison Park.
The Everton fans knew they had a role to play, with the atmosphere heating up as the match wore on, and the club’s anthem, Spirit of the Blues, was performed.
But as has been Everton’s problem for most of this season, a goal looked unlikely to come in the first half from several chances, with Bournemouth keeper Mark Travers’ save to deny Idrissa Gueye that nearly put the hosts on the scoresheet.
Without injured front-line striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton look like the only team to have scored more than once at home in all competitions all season.
The goal from Doucoure, however, was well worth the wait for the Goodison faithful, with supporters crying in the stands as the ball hit the net.
Holding on for just over half an hour, Everton relied on some last-ditch defense and a fine save from England keeper Jordan Pickford to drag them over the line.
Despite warnings not to do so, fans took to the pitch to celebrate another survival success as Everton lived to fight for another day as a Premier League team.
“I’m very proud of what I saw today,” said Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil.
“I’m looking forward to working with these players again next season and seeing what we can achieve. Everyone in this country has us finishing bottom of the season so it’s a big accomplishment for the players.”
