Manager Sean Dyche says he is “responsible” for Everton slumping to a club record-equalling 12th consecutive Premier League game without a win.
Long-serving captain Seamus Coleman’s late own goal handed Bournemouth victory in an extraordinary finish.
Dominic Solanke’s header looked set to prove the difference for the Cherries in a game of attrition and little quality.
But the contest burst into life with time running out for Everton.
The Toffees thought they would salvage at least a point when Beto took advantage of a goalkeeping error from Neto.
However, Coleman chested a cross into his own net – under no pressure – in injury time.
Everton have not won in the league since 16 December and, sitting in 16th place, are only three points clear of the relegation zone.
Dyche’s team would have a greater cushion from the bottom three if the club had not been docked six points for breaching financial rules. That was reduced on appeal from an initial 10-point penalty.
“We’re responsible, I’m responsible. I didn’t come into it thinking it was a walk in the park,” said Dyche, who was appointed in January last year.
“But when things go against you outside your control – the 10 points and the referee today – they are really important moments.”
Bournemouth, meanwhile, look all but safe after moving on to 38 points with nine games left.
Late twist indicative of Everton’s miserable run:
Everton face a nervy end to the season as they aim to preserve their proud record of never being relegated from the Premier League and extend their 70-year stay in the top flight.
But their woeful recent run, which has come against the backdrop of uncertainty off the pitch, has left them perilously close to the relegation zone.
Their fight to stay up could yet be hit by a further points deduction for a second alleged breach of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.
Regardless of what happens in that situation, this was another worrying performance for Dyche’s side and their supporters.
While Everton had plenty of possession, they struggled to regularly break down Bournemouth’s defence until Beto was gifted a goal that the visitors thought would be enough for a point.
However, there was another late twist which rather summed up Everton’s recent misfortune.
With Coleman perhaps expecting goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to gather, the 35-year-old Irishman bundled into his own goal and looked disconsolate as the realization dawned it was probably too late for Everton to pinch a second equalizer.
“It’s tough for Seamus. He puts his heart and soul into this team and gives everything,” said Toffees winger Jack Harrison.
“It is always a difficult thing, but Seamus is a great captain and great leader. He will bounce back.”
Toffees boss Dyche also bemoaned Dominic Calvert-Lewin not being given a second-half penalty, when the score was 0-0, after being clipped across the shins by Tyler Adams.
“We can’t get on the right side of the referees at the minute and so we have to make sure we take care of ourselves. That’s what we didn’t do in the dying embers of the game,” Dyche said.
Solanke stakes England claim?
Yet again, Solanke demonstrated his importance to Bournemouth with a goal that set his team on the path to back-to-back wins.
Solanke’s header equalled the club record of 16 Premier League goals in a season, set by Joshua King in 2016-17, and afterwards team-mate Adam Smith led calls for the striker to receive England recognition.
Now 26, Solanke won his solitary England cap in 2017 when he came on as a substitute against Brazil.
“I don’t really understand why he isn’t in the England squad. Maybe because he plays for little old Bournemouth,” said Smith.
“He’s a top player and if he keeps scoring goals like this I am sure he will get in the squad.”
While Solanke put the ball in the net thanks to his movement and technique, the goal was created by substitute Lloyd Kelly’s excellent delivery from the left flank.
Kelly had missed five games with a hip injury and, just 60 seconds after coming on to the pitch, whipped in a pinpoint cross between two Everton defenders which invited Solanke to attack it.
It was a rare piece of attacking brilliance and proved vital in Bournemouth – eventually – claiming maximum points as they edged closer to their highest points tally in a Premier League season.
Andoni Iraola’s side are eight points behind the club’s best haul of 46 points, which came in a ninth-place finish under Eddie Howe in 2016-17.