Southampton vs Everton. Premier League.
St. Mary's StadiumAttendance30,510.
Match report and free highlights as Everton beat Southampton 2-1 at St Mary's to record back-to-back victories in the Premier League; Joe Aribo gave hosts lead early in second half but visitors hit back immediately through Conor Coady and Dwight McNeil; Saints have now lost three in a row
Sunday 2 October 2022 09:41, UK
Two quickfire second-half goals from Conor Coady and Dwight McNeil saw Everton come from behind to beat Southampton 2-1 at St Mary's.
After a first half that featured just three shots on target, three goals in five minutes after the break brought the game to life as Premier League football returned following the international break.
Joe Aribo gave Southampton the lead when his driven left-footed shot beat Jordan Pickford (49), but Everton hit back instantly when Coady tapped in from close range to score his first Toffees goal (52).
The visitors then completed the turnaround two minutes later when McNeil fired past Gavin Bazunu into the roof of the net to also register his first strike in an Everton shirt (54).
The result means Everton have sealed back-to-back victories in the Premier League and sees them rise to 11th in the table. The Toffees are unbeaten in six games after their second away league win of 2022.
As for Southampton, the defeat is their third in a row and fourth in five matches. They have now failed to keep a clean sheet in 14 consecutive league fixtures dating back to April and drop to 16th.
The opening 45 minutes on the south coast - the first Premier League game at St Mary's since August 30 - was a forgetful one. Everton controlled the half with Conor Coady squandering their best opening when he failed to connect cleanly with a Demarai Gray cross.
However, the second period made up for the lack of excitement as all three goals were scored within five chaotic minutes. Saints broke the deadlock when Che Adams found Joe Aribo inside the area and the former Rangers man turned neatly before rifling a shot into the bottom corner.
But the celebrations from the home supporters were cut short immediately. Another Gray delivery caused problems - this time from a free-kick - and Amadou Onana impressively headed the ball back across goal for Coady to volley in and open his account for the Merseyside club.
The end-to-end nature of the contest continued, with Southampton wasting three chances to retake the lead in a passage of play that finished with Everton going in front. Adams, Stuart Armstrong and James Ward-Prowse were all denied by some last-ditch defending before the visitors went straight up the other end and took the lead through Dwight McNeil, who scored his first Toffees goal since joining from Burnley.
Alex Iwobi's cross had been intended for Onana, but he received a shove from Kyle Walker-Peters and that allowed the ball to run through to McNeil, who took a touch before drilling the ball high into the roof of the net.
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl brought on forward Adam Armstrong in search of an equaliser and he was straight into the action, setting up Adams for a volley that went wide before testing Jordan Pickford himself from 12 yards in the 72nd minute.
Pickford, back for Everton after missing England duty with a thigh injury, dealt with a late barrage of crosses into his box before Southampton debutant Duje Caleta-Car volleyed a great chance over the bar in stoppage time as Frank Lampard's side held on for an impressive three points.
Everton manager Frank Lampard said: "We came here and lost 2-0 in my third or fourth game I think. We were in the game and then they scored, then scored again and we didn't really have anything about us to get back into it.
"I think this shows the progression. It is certainly not the end of the story and we need a lot more progression to get to where we need to get to, but it is a positive that we have a stronger spine about us now.
"I am delighted for them to get the feeling of two wins because it is a feeling of confidence for the group.
"We have had a couple of good draws on the road and certainly showed some digging-in spirit within the team.
"Now we go away and get a win, but you have to approach every away game in the Premier League with caution. Nowhere is easy to come and, if this helps build confidence - and I am sure it will do - then that is a great thing."
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said: "We are convinced about what we have done today. I think it was clear. It was also a bit of a shame and I am unhappy it did not work.
"We had immediately (after the equaliser) a good ball into Joe, then a fantastic pass into Che and a chance for the second goal.
"Premier League football is brutal when you don't score and you concede. This is what happened today and this is what this young team has to learn, that it is not enough to invest a lot and create, create and create. In some moments you have to be decisive and we haven't been.
"The difference between the two teams was their clinical finish in the box that we haven't had."
Sky Sports' Dan Sansom at St Mary's:
Three points from their opening five games represented Everton's worst start to a Premier League season in 12 years.
But after Saturday's 2-1 comeback win over Southampton at St Mary's, Frank Lampard's side are now unbeaten in six league matches - their longest run in a single campaign since 2017/18.
In his programme notes before last month's home draw in the Merseyside derby, the Everton boss spoke about the process of rebuilding and said his team will get better.
Two games later, his statement appears to have been justified. After four consecutive draws, back-to-back victories over West Ham and Southampton are signs of improvement and progress.
'Super Frank,' the Everton fans chanted at full-time. The Lampard era is well and truly up and running.
Sky Sports' Dan Sansom at St Mary's:
"It was horrible to watch." Those were the words of Ralph Hasenhuttl after Southampton lost 1-0 to Aston Villa before the international break. That result followed a 1-0 reverse at Wolves.
Saturday's defeat at home against Everton wasn't as disappointing - there was a clear improvement in terms of chances created - but overall it was another disjointed performance.
Southampton's first game at St Mary's since an impressive 2-1 win over Chelsea at the end of August was - on paper, at least - an ideal opportunity to turn their poor form around after back-to-back losses at Molineux and Villa Park. Instead, it is now three defeats in a row.
Hasenhuttl has been under pressure before since taking charge in 2018. He has, after all, bounced back from two 9-0 thrashings during his tenure, so it would be no surprise to see him recover from this latest run of poor results.
But this is perhaps his toughest test. When the clock struck 78 minutes against Everton, shouts of 'what are you doing?' and '12 minutes to save your job' could be heard from some disgruntled supporters.
The Southampton boss said he was not under pressure before this game. It will be interesting to know what he thinks now.
Southampton travel to Premier League champions Manchester City next Saturday at 3pm before hosting West Ham on October 16 at 2pm.
Up next for Everton is a home match against Manchester United next Sunday at 7pm. They then make the trip to Tottenham on October 15 at 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports.
