Tarkowski: 'It's a tough game here' as Everton earn a point at Bournemouth
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: James Tarkowski of Everton celebrates his late equalising goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between AFC Bournemouth and Everton at Vitality Stadium on August 29, 2026 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
James Tarkowski talked about a 1-1 draw between Everton and Bournemouth.
The Toffees retained their unbeaten record at the start of the season after a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace last Saturday and a 4-0 win against Preston North End in the Carabao Cup second round.
ยท'The defensive work was brilliant'
A trip to the Vitality Stadium against last year's sixth-placed Premier League team was meant to be their hardest test on paper so far, and so it proved.
Alex Scott scored the opening goal of the game at the end of the first half, and the visitors had to battle in order to keep themselves in the contest.
In the end, the central defender drilled home an effort from a second-half injury-time set-piece, and Tarkowski applauded the defensive resilience from his teammates to walk away with a point.
Tarkowski on his leveller
"I just hit the target, that's all I aim to do. The ball fell to me and it was fortunate. A few of their players got in each other's way. With a wet pitch like that, there's every chance it goes in.
"It was a tough game. I think in the first half we were the better side and just before the goal we dominated the play. Bournemouth are quick on the counter and they got up the other end and punished us. In the second half they had a bit more chances than we had. We stuck in the game and thankfully I put the chance away.
"We take it. Set pieces are super important. We want to score goals from them and today it happened.
Praise for the defence
"The defensive work from the lads around me and in front of me and Jordan Pickford in goal was brilliant. It's a tough game here. We stuck right in there and got the point on the road. Just wait for your opportunity and it came to me and I scored."