David Brooks stunner sinks Everton and sets club record for Bournemouth | first division

Bournemouth continue to lead the way, even in the middle of winter. A club record eighth in a row first division The unbeaten game also added three more points to their record-breaking tally so far and all contributed by David Brooks, the cultured striker who retains the sincere affection of the Bournemouth fans and scored a goal after coming on as a substitute.

Almost three years later receiving approval Following treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma, Brooks remains a bit player for the Cherries, but Andoni Iraola still trusts him to deliver. The Welshman did it in the 77th minute, crashing a cross into the far post to decide a match with few clear opportunities.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the opposing coach offered different opinions on the contest. “It was a close game that they got through,” Sean Dyche said. “Everyone saw that the goal was coming,” Iraola considered.

The truth was probably somewhere in between, as Everton largely kept Bournemouth with his arm extended and grew in the contest in the second half. But such was the visitors' lack of attacking strength that Bournemouth were able to continue pressing as the match progressed without taking many more risks.

“Although the game was a bit intermittent, we had very clear chances in the first half,” Iraola said. “We haven't scored but we were patient. We just had to keep pushing them. It was a matter of their legs running out and not reaching every movement, every support in defense, and in the end we were able to make the difference.”

The Spaniard said before the match that a clinical finish would be necessary to overcome the Everton defender and Jordan Pickford, a possessed goalkeeper. Iraola said Brooks had met the required standard. “That ending is David's definition of clinical.”

Brooks is now in his seventh season at Vitality Stadium and has remained a fringe figure since his convalescence. But injuries within the team over the past two months have given him an opportunity.

“Everyone at the club trusts David,” Iraola said. “I think that in the last month he has started two games, he has come off the bench in all the other games, so lately he has played more minutes because we have the injuries (to Marcus Tavernier and Luis Sinisterra) in his position. “Everyone fights for minutes and that is good for the team.”

The goal came seven minutes after Iraola made decisive changes. He introduced Brooks in place of Dango Ouattara and brought in Enes Unal in place of Justin Kluivert and placed him closer to Evanilson. Seven minutes later and Antoine Semenyo, moved to the left, contested an aerial ball. His move cleared Milos Kerkez. The winger had been conscientious in his defensive tasks throughout the game, but here he had the opportunity to open his feet and launched a deep cross to the far post. Brooks was waiting for the ball, in a lot of space. His volley was clean, beautiful and deadly.

“The first half was close, but we weren't where we wanted to be, so I made changes for the second half,” Dyche said. “We were stronger in the second half and reached key areas.

“What's been a challenge since I've been at the club is finding that last moment, the people passing by when they can shoot and that sort of thing. The final crossing, the end and we don't find it, is very frustrating.”

This is a script that Dyche has repeated too many times for many frustrated Everton fans and there was a sense of exasperation from the manager as he reiterated the circumstances he finds himself in. “I said at the beginning of the season that there are miles to go. In this story, there are miles to go and there are still miles to go,” he said.

“The new property will bring stability, they have made it clear and over time they will build it. That's all. The rest is constantly working with a group of players to try to win games, but I tried to make it clear.

“Everyone said they wanted the truth, I told them the truth and then they don't want the truth. What do you want me to tell you?