Oumar Niasse proved to be the hero as Everton came from behind to record a vital three points against Bournemouth.
After a poor first-half that was low on overall quality, Josh King's low 49th minute strike put the visitors into a surprise lead.
But forgotten man Niasse wrestled control of the game for the hosts with a brace that earned Ronald Koeman's men a welcome victory in the league.
Here are four things we learned from the game at Goodison Park.
Stubborn Koeman making same mistakes despite victory
Much has been made of Everton's form in the opening month of the campaign, but faced with four evidently winnable home games, the belief in most quarters was that their fortunes would start to improve rather rapidly.
Sunderland, Bournemouth, Apollon Limassol and Burnley, it was said, provided the perfect opportunity for a winning framework to emerge.
The problem is, though, that for a side low on confidence- and shorn of last season's main main Romelu Lukaku- any task is a stretch. Particularly when the same under-performing players are privileged over bright young sparks.
Against Sunderland on Wednesday night, a youthful Everton side played with such pace and purpose that the likes of Nikola Vlasic and Tom Davies should have been under consideration for today's game. But come 2pm team news, neither figure was selected in a worryingly narrow 4-2-3-1 that saw Wayne Rooney and Gylfi Sigurdsson play as wingers.
In the end, victory was almost achieved in spite of the Dutchman's rather baffling tactics. Substitutes ultimately bailed out their under-pressure manager.
Nevertheless, it remains the case that Everton's resurgence will only be temporary unless lessons are quickly learned.
King should be Bournemouth's main man
Most of Bournemouth's early-season woes have been centred around a profligate attack that has stifled both last season's top scorer Josh King and summer signing Jermaine Defoe. Up to now, a change in shape to a 4-4-2 has failed to get the best out of either of the Cherries' two leading lights.
Here, though, a way forward emerged. King, the scorer of Bournemouth's opener, was a regular threat throughout with his direct running and physical presence.
Defoe, on the other hand, cut a frustrated figure and was all too often on the periphery of the action. One big chance was squandered at 1-0 to effectively put the game to bed, and it was thus no surprise to see the ex-Sunderland man hooked as Howe sought to shore up his midfield.
Given their respective performances at Goodison, the Bournemouth manager would be well advised to keep faith with King as he looks to halt the club's disappointing run.
Davies the solution to Everton's midfield headache
It's become all too easy to play against Everton. Even disregarding erratic defensive performances of late, opposition teams know that the Blues lack the ability to break the lines with pace.
In midfield, Idrissa Gueye and Morgan Schneiderlin's struggles have highlighted the need for someone who can go forwards instead of sideways.
Davies, for all intents and purposes, appears to be that man. Poor in the early part of the Premier League campaign, the homegrown talent was back to his best in recent games against Manchester United and Sunderland. As such, being the form man in the engine room, he should have started again.
Introduced before the hour mark in an unusual right-midfield role, he again grasped his chance to impress with both hands.
A smart slide-rule pass made Niasse's equaliser- something few others in blue are capable of managing- while a direct run and shot provided the assist for the winner.
Koeman would be wise to take note.
Niasse continues to prove point
Jettisoned by Ronald Koeman shortly after the Dutchman's arrival at Goodison Park, there seemed no way back for Oumar Niasse at Everton.
Yet following a decent loan spell at Hull City last season, and the failure to bring in an adequate replacement for Romelu Lukaku, the door has been left ajar for the Senegalese striker to salvage his Everton career.
Remarkably, he is already starting to do just that.
It's never pretty. As a footballer, Niasse has real limitations both in and out of possession. However, today's brace makes it three goals in less than a week for a side that had previously gone over 400 minutes without netting. The first, in particular, showed a predatory instinct in front of goal that will have pleased his manager.
He simply cannot be ignored at present.
