Across the 90 minutes, they had eight shots but were unable to test Fraser Forster, the Southampton goalkeeper, with any of them. The home team drew encouragement from holding Everton at bay during a busy opening and Southampton had a firm foothold in the contest by the break. Stuart Armstrong’s precise finish from around 20 yards, seven minutes after the restart – following a turnover of possession in Everton territory- gave the home team a measure of control. Southampton passed up a handful of chances – a mixture of their own profligacy and sound goalkeeping from Jordan Pickford keeping the score at 1-0 – before Shane Long headed home Tino Livramento’s 84th-minute cross, 60 seconds after the striker was sent on as a substitute.
For the opening 10 minutes, this was all about the pace and hunger and intent of Everton – save for a Southampton breakaway when Pickford smothered at the feet of Armando Broja. Pickford made his stop on six minutes and, by then, Everton had presented decent arguments for two penalties. Anthony Gordon did the legwork on two minutes, picking up speed to latch onto a return pass from Richarlison – the Brazilian knocked off his feet as he laid off the ball – and progressing into the box.
Madley never looked like producing the second yellow Allan feared. So concern turned immediately to the sight of James Ward-Prowse standing over a dead ball. A Ward-Prowse free-kick in these parts is an event in itself. There is a ceremonial feel as the midfielder’s name rolls ominously around St Mary’s – it reminds of Evertonians baying for ‘Sheedy’ when their side had a set-piece in shooting range – and a handclap gathers pace in advance of Ward-Prowse’s strike. Pickford was equal to this one, leaping right to tip behind a dipping shot, directed across the goalkeeper. Walker-Peters profited from a fortunate deflection – the ball ricocheting back in his path off Coleman – to skip into the penalty area and fizz a shot wide of the near post six minutes before half-time.
If you are interested in an Official membership, you can find out how to buy one here. Also check out our streaming FAQs. Match Stats Team Stats Player Stats Everton have picked up under Frank Lampard, no doubt, but successive victories continue to elude the manager after his side conceded twice after half-time to lose at Southampton. There was an increasingly familiar rapid start at St Mary's Stadium from the Lampard’s side, who twice claimed for penalties in the game’s opening four minutes. Richarlison had a half chance soon after kick-off, too. But Everton couldn’t convert their initial pressure into anything of substance.