Everton have given their fans plenty of pain in recent years but Saturday's implosion from the Toffees might just take the prize for the most excruciating yet.
Goals from Michael Keane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin shortly after half-time had Everton seemingly cruising to a first victory of the season at long last against Bournemouth at Goodison Park.
What transpired in the last few moments was a Premier League collapse of historical proportions. 2-0 up with three minutes to play, Everton would concede three goals in ten minutes to fall to an astonishing 3-2 defeat to the Cherries, with injury-time goals from Lewis Cook and Luis Sinisterra completing a remarkable turnaround.
Never before has a team led by two goals at as late a stage as the 87th minute and still gone on to lose.
Just as they did on opening day against Brighton, Everton fans voted with their feet, with huge swathes of seats empty by the full-time whistle. Those who did stay made their feelings heard in traditionally cacophonous style.
Defeat to Bournemouth follows a 4-0 reverse at Spurs last weekend and a 3-0 defeat to Brighton on the opening day, leaving Everton rooted firmly to the bottom of the table.
As Ireland man Jake O'Brien once again sat unused on the bench amid a defensive calamity, the blame was firmly placed with Sean Dyche by the majority of the club's online fanbase.
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Sean Dyche once again gives Jake O'Brien the cold shoulder in spectacular Everton defeat
Signed for almost €20 million from Lyon, Jake O'Brien would be forgiven for expecting more game time than he has enjoyed in his first few weeks as an Everton player.
The Irish centre-back was once again on the bench for Saturday's game against Bournemouth and ultimately did not see any game time for the third game in a row.
As Everton's defence floundered and Michael Keane was severely at fault for Bournemouth's winner, many Everton (and Ireland) fans questioned why O'Brien had yet to be played by manager Sean Dyche.
There is no way Jake O'Brien can be worse than Michael Keane
— Jim Keoghan (@Jim_Keoghan) August 31, 2024
What must Jake O’Brien be thinking?
❌ Everton lose both Premier League fixtures 3-0 and 4-0 with Keane playing
✅ Jake O’Brien plays and Everton beat Doncaster 3-0
❌ Sean Dyche prefers Keane over O’Brien again today.
Ludicrous decision imo.— Lea (@Lea_EFC) August 31, 2024
One summer signing who was named in the starting lineup for Everton on Saturday was Iliman Ndiaye, and the home fans were hugely impressed by the Senegalese star's performance - so much so that he received a standing ovation as he left the pitch.
Ndiaye was taken off with seven minutes to go - at which point Everton's structure completely fell apart, with Bournemouth running riot in the closing stages.
For many Everton fans online, it was the decision to take Ndiaye off which hammered home their issues with manager Sean Dyche, who is under increasing pressure at Goodison Park.
Inexcusable to take off Iliman Ndiaye who was carrying the ball out of danger all game.
Game management a disgrace there. There is 0 excuse not to comfortably win that game is managed correctly.— Tactically Matt (@TacticallyMatt) August 31, 2024
The manager again for me. Iroegbunam was becoming more and more wasteful because he was knackered. Ndiaye was winning us smart fouls up the pitch.
Dyche takes off the wrong player and that’s what happens. The manager costs us points.— Ell Bretland (@EllBretland) August 31, 2024
Ndiaye came off in the 83rd min🤔 https://t.co/0IL2Mp7IjQ
— Tom Shepherd (@TDShepherd20) August 31, 2024
In his post-match interviews, Sean Dyche said that he couldn't "put his finger" on what had gone wrong for Everton on the pitch.
The Athletic's Everton correspondent Patrick Boyland revealed on Twitter that the two men at the centre of the Toffees' fan fury were caught in a pitchside moment at full-time.
Jake O'Brien and Everton staff consoling Ndiaye at the end. If there was one player who didn't deserve that result, it was him
— Patrick Boyland (@Paddy_Boyland) August 31, 2024
A penny for their thoughts.
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