Southampton 2-0 Everton: Saints maintain impressive form

Southampton maintained their impressive form with a comfortable Premier League victory against a lacklustre Everton at St Mary’s.

Scotland winger Stuart Armstrong opened the scoring just after the break, curling in from 15 yards after Oriol Romeu and Che Adams combined.

Shane Long’s late header – also his first top-flight goal of the campaign – ensured a merited win for Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side, who are now unbeaten in five matches in all competitions.

Until Long struck, Everton retained a slender interest in taking a point largely because of Southampton’s inability to make the most of several excellent chances.

Everton began both halves brightly but quickly faded and the second-half introduction of Dele Alli was unable to provide the necessary spark.

“I did not like the reaction,” said Everton manager Frank Lampard.

“I am here for a reason because we are down in a position we don’t want to be in. In the two games at Goodison I have seen some really good thing – in the two games away, not so much.

“The players need to understand that second half is not good enough. It is not good enough to lose second balls consistently; it is not good enough to try and miss out [midfield] and play to the strikers.

“It has to be an option but it can’t be the way we play. We will have days like this. It is important to learn the lessons.”

Everton’s failings were underlined by their inability to register a shot on target as their dismal away record continued – they have won only once in 12 games on their travels this season.

Southampton remain 10th in the table while Everton sit 16th, four points above the bottom three.

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Saints continue on positive note

Southampton appear to be hitting form at the right time to push for a European place or, at worst, a first top-half finish since 2017.

This result, part of an impressive sequence including victory at Tottenham and draws against both Manchester clubs that could have amounted to more, underlined their upward trajectory.

Aside from the opening periods of both halves Southampton were completely dominant.

Jan Bednarek and Tino Livramento drew excellent saves from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during a concerted spell of pressure in the first half, while Kyle Walker-Peters clipped the outside of a post.

That largely continued after the break as Armstrong and Long gave Southampton the reward they richly deserved.

Everton fall flat on travels again

Everton’s high-tempo start to each half was in keeping with their victories over Brentford in the FA Cup and against Leeds last weekend.

On another occasion they may have been awarded at least one penalty from two early appeals, and Richarlison was unable to turn in after losing control of the ball in front of goal.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin causing Southampton problems at the back, Everton at that stage appeared capable of securing their first back-to-back league wins since September.

However, once the hosts assumed control, Donny van de Beek, Allan and replacement Andre Gomes were easily bypassed and unable to stem the flow of attacks.

Van de Beek’s decision to pass backwards to Seamus Coleman contributed to Southampton’s opener, with Gomes played into trouble and the ball finding the back of the Everton net moments later.

Andros Townsend and Alli were brought on by manager Frank Lampard to add impetus, but there was little additional thrust.

Everton’s haul of 22 points from their first 23 games represents their worst tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1950-51, when they also had 22 and were relegated.

Player of the match

S ArmstrongStuart Armstrong

with an average of 8.20

Southampton

1. Squad number17Player nameS Armstrong

2. Squad number7Player nameLong

3. Squad number10Player nameAdams

4. Squad number2Player nameWalker-Peters

5. Squad number18Player nameBroja

6. Squad number6Player nameOriol Romeu

7. Squad number21Player nameLivramento

8. Squad number24Player nameElyounoussi

9. Squad number22Player nameSalisu

10. Squad number9Player nameA Armstrong

11. Squad number35Player nameBednarek

12. Squad number8Player nameWard-Prowse

13. Squad number44Player nameForster

14. Squad number19Player nameDjenepo

Everton

1. Squad number30Player namevan de Beek

2. Squad number1Player namePickford

3. Squad number7Player nameRicharlison

4. Squad number24Player nameGordon

5. Squad number9Player nameCalvert-Lewin

6. Squad number23Player nameColeman

7. Squad number2Player nameKenny

8. Squad number6Player nameAllan

9. Squad number4Player nameHolgate

10. Squad number5Player nameKeane

11. Squad number17Player nameIwobi

12. Squad number14Player nameTownsend

13. Squad number36Player nameAlli

14. Squad number21Player nameAndré Gomes

Line-ups

Southampton

Formation 4-4-2

44Forster

21Livramento35Bednarek22Salisu2Walker-Peters

17S Armstrong8Ward-Prowse6Romeu24Elyounoussi

10Adams18Broja

• 44Forster
• 21Livramento
• 35Bednarek
• 22Salisu
• 2Walker-Peters
• 17S ArmstrongSubstituted forDjenepoat 90+3′minutes
• 8Ward-Prowse
• 6Romeu
• 24Elyounoussi
• 10AdamsSubstituted forA Armstrongat 90+1′minutes
• 18BrojaSubstituted forLongat 83′minutes

Substitutes

• 5Stephens
• 7Long
• 9A Armstrong
• 13Caballero
• 19Djenepo
• 20Smallbone
• 27Diallo
• 32Walcott
• 43Valery

Everton

Formation 4-4-2

1Pickford

23Coleman4Holgate5Keane2Kenny

17Iwobi6Allan30van de Beek24Gordon

9Calvert-Lewin7Richarlison

• 1Pickford
• 23Coleman
• 4Holgate
• 5Keane
• 2Kenny
• 17IwobiSubstituted forTownsendat 65′minutes
• 6AllanBooked at 15minsSubstituted forAndré Gomesat 45′minutes
• 30van de Beek
• 24GordonSubstituted forAlliat 75′minutes
• 9Calvert-LewinBooked at 40mins
• 7Richarlison

Substitutes

• 3Patterson
• 14Townsend
• 15Begovic
• 19Mykolenko
• 21André Gomes
• 32Branthwaite
• 33Rondón
• 34El Ghazi
• 36Alli

Referee:

Andy Madley

Attendance:

31,312

Live Text

1. Match ends, Southampton 2, Everton 0.

2. Second Half ends, Southampton 2, Everton 0.

3. Substitution, Southampton. Moussa Djenepo replaces Stuart Armstrong.

4. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

5. Foul by André Gomes (Everton).

6. Corner, Everton. Conceded by Valentino Livramento.

7. Attempt blocked. Dele Alli (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

8. Substitution, Southampton. Adam Armstrong replaces Che Adams.

9. Attempt blocked. Che Adams (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Oriol Romeu.

10. Shane Long (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

11. Foul by Séamus Coleman (Everton).

12. Offside, Everton. Jonjoe Kenny tries a through ball, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin is caught offside.

13. Goal! Southampton 2, Everton 0. Shane Long (Southampton) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Valentino Livramento with a cross.

14. Substitution, Southampton. Shane Long replaces Armando Broja.

15. Attempt missed. Armando Broja (Southampton) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Kyle Walker-Peters.

16. Corner, Everton. Conceded by Jan Bednarek.

17. Attempt saved. Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse.

18. Foul by Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton).

19. Andros Townsend (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

20. Substitution, Everton. Dele Alli replaces Anthony Gordon.

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Stuart Armstrong’s only other goal this season came in the FA Cup against Coventry CitySouthampton maintained their impressive form with a comfortable Premier League victory against a lacklustre Everton at St Mary’s.Scotland winger Stuart Armstrong opened the scoring just after the break, curling in from 15 yards after Oriol Romeu and Che Adams combined. Shane Long’s late header – also his first top-flight goal of the campaign – ensured a merited win for Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side, who are now unbeaten in five matches in all competitions.Until Long struck, Everton retained a slender interest in taking a point largely because of Southampton’s inability to make the most of several excellent chances.Everton began both halves brightly but quickly faded and the second-half introduction of Dele Alli was unable to provide the necessary spark.Frank Lampard criticises Everton reaction to Southampton goal”I did not like the reaction,” said Everton manager Frank Lampard.”I am here for a reason because we are down in a position we don’t want to be in. In the two games at Goodison I have seen some really good thing – in the two games away, not so much.”The players need to understand that second half is not good enough. It is not good enough to lose second balls consistently; it is not good enough to try and miss out [midfield] and play to the strikers.”It has to be an option but it can’t be the way we play. We will have days like this. It is important to learn the lessons.”Everton’s failings were underlined by their inability to register a shot on target as their dismal away record continued – they have won only once in 12 games on their travels this season.Southampton remain 10th in the table while Everton sit 16th, four points above the bottom three.Follow Saturday’s Premier League actionGo straight to all the best Southampton content Visit our Everton pageSaints continue on positive noteSouthampton appear to be hitting form at the right time to push for a European place or, at worst, a first top-half finish since 2017.This result, part of an impressive sequence including victory at Tottenham and draws against both Manchester clubs that could have amounted to more, underlined their upward trajectory.Aside from the opening periods of both halves Southampton were completely dominant. Jan Bednarek and Tino Livramento drew excellent saves from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during a concerted spell of pressure in the first half, while Kyle Walker-Peters clipped the outside of a post.That largely continued after the break as Armstrong and Long gave Southampton the reward they richly deserved.Ralph Hassenhuttl says Southampton did ‘fantastic job’Everton fall flat on travels againEverton’s high-tempo start to each half was in keeping with their victories over Brentford in the FA Cup and against Leeds last weekend. On another occasion they may have been awarded at least one penalty from two early appeals, and Richarlison was unable to turn in after losing control of the ball in front of goal.With Dominic Calvert-Lewin causing Southampton problems at the back, Everton at that stage appeared capable of securing their first back-to-back league wins since September.However, once the hosts assumed control, Donny van de Beek, Allan and replacement Andre Gomes were easily bypassed and unable to stem the flow of attacks.Van de Beek’s decision to pass backwards to Seamus Coleman contributed to Southampton’s opener, with Gomes played into trouble and the ball finding the back of the Everton net moments later.Andros Townsend and Alli were brought on by manager Frank Lampard to add impetus, but there was little additional thrust.Everton’s haul of 22 points from their first 23 games represents their worst tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1950-51, when they also had 22 and were relegated.Player of the matchS ArmstrongStuart Armstrongwith an average of 8.20SouthamptonSquad number17Player nameS ArmstrongSquad number7Player nameLongSquad number10Player nameAdamsSquad number2Player nameWalker-PetersSquad number18Player nameBrojaSquad number6Player nameOriol RomeuSquad number21Player nameLivramentoSquad number24Player nameElyounoussiSquad number22Player nameSalisuSquad number9Player nameA ArmstrongSquad number35Player nameBednarekSquad number8Player nameWard-ProwseSquad number44Player nameForsterSquad number19Player nameDjenepoEvertonSquad number30Player namevan de BeekSquad number1Player namePickfordSquad number7Player nameRicharlisonSquad number24Player nameGordonSquad number9Player nameCalvert-LewinSquad number23Player nameColemanSquad number2Player nameKennySquad number6Player nameAllanSquad number4Player nameHolgateSquad number5Player nameKeaneSquad number17Player nameIwobiSquad number14Player nameTownsendSquad number36Player nameAlliSquad number21Player nameAndré GomesLine-upsSouthamptonFormation 4-4-244Forster21Livramento35Bednarek22Salisu2Walker-Peters17S Armstrong8Ward-Prowse6Romeu24Elyounoussi10Adams18Broja44Forster21Livramento35Bednarek22Salisu2Walker-Peters17S ArmstrongSubstituted forDjenepoat 90+3’minutes8Ward-Prowse6Romeu24Elyounoussi10AdamsSubstituted forA Armstrongat 90+1’minutes18BrojaSubstituted forLongat 83’minutesSubstitutes5Stephens7Long9A Armstrong13Caballero19Djenepo20Smallbone27Diallo32Walcott43ValeryEvertonFormation 4-4-21Pickford23Coleman4Holgate5Keane2Kenny17Iwobi6Allan30van de Beek24Gordon9Calvert-Lewin7Richarlison1Pickford23Coleman4Holgate5Keane2Kenny17IwobiSubstituted forTownsendat 65’minutes6AllanBooked at 15minsSubstituted forAndré Gomesat 45’minutes30van de Beek24GordonSubstituted forAlliat 75’minutes9Calvert-LewinBooked at 40mins7RicharlisonSubstitutes3Patterson14Townsend15Begovic19Mykolenko21André Gomes32Branthwaite33Rondón34El Ghazi36AlliReferee:Andy MadleyAttendance:31,312Live TextMatch ends, Southampton 2, Everton 0.Second Half ends, Southampton 2, Everton 0.Substitution, Southampton. Moussa Djenepo replaces Stuart Armstrong.Adam Armstrong (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Foul by André Gomes (Everton).Corner, Everton. Conceded by Valentino Livramento.Attempt blocked. Dele Alli (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.Substitution, Southampton. Adam Armstrong replaces Che Adams.Attempt blocked. Che Adams (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Oriol Romeu.Shane Long (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Foul by Séamus Coleman (Everton).Offside, Everton. Jonjoe Kenny tries a through ball, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin is caught offside.Goal! Southampton 2, Everton 0. Shane Long (Southampton) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Valentino Livramento with a cross.Substitution, Southampton. Shane Long replaces Armando Broja.Attempt missed. Armando Broja (Southampton) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Kyle Walker-Peters.Corner, Everton. Conceded by Jan Bednarek.Attempt saved. Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse.Foul by Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton).Andros Townsend (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.Substitution, Everton. Dele Alli replaces Anthony Gordon.Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before – here’s everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment