Southampton 1-0 Everton: Match Recap & Instant Reaction | Saints get first victory

Everton were making the 240 mile drive to the south coast to play struggling Southampton who started the day propping up the Premier League after only getting one point from their first nine matches. A midweek victory over Stoke in the dying minutes to eek out a 3-2 win qualified them for the quarter final match against Liverpool.

Beto’s last gasp goal against Fulham glossed over a disappointing outing for the Blues but it allowed them to extend their unbeaten run to five matches. Three points today would put Everton in a mid table position which any Evertonian would be elated with after how the team had started the season.

Avoiding a loss for the sixth successive league game would equal their streak between August and October 2022 under Frank Lampard, when the sixth fixture was a 2-1 win at Southampton.

Dwight McNeil “had a chance” of being available, according to manager Sean Dyche, after he was forced off in the draw with Fulham because of a knee injury and it was good to see him in the lineup from the start. It was McNeil who had scored the winner the last time the teams had met two years ago.

Sean Dyche made two changes to Everton’s starting eleven. Orel Mangala and Jesper Lindstrøm both came into the side, replacing Jack Harrison and Abdoulaye Doucoure, the latter picking up a knock last weekend against Fulham.

Ashley Young made a 400th Premier League start but James Garner, Armando Broja, Youssef Chermiti and Tim Iroegbunam were still sidelined. The depletion of midfield resources gave Harrison Armstrong an excellent opportunity to show what he can contribute to the first team from the bench.

Southampton’s squad had been hit by a sickness throughout the week but at the end of it, only Ryan Fraser was the only player missing because of ongoing symptoms. Tyler Dibling was on the bench after being rested in the EFL Cup win against Stoke City. Adam Armstrong was the lone change from last week’s squad.

After the playing of The Last Post and a moment of reflection, Andy Madley got the game underway. Everton were pressing the Saints in the early minutes and Ndiaye was given a free kick on the edge of the box. Lindstrom’s free kick was easily handled by Ramsdale.

It took Southampton eight minutes to get the ball under control in the Everton half. The Saints play possession football so the counter attack from Everton was going to be important. Lindstrom broke down the right twice but his cross could not find a blue shirt.

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The higher pressure from Everton was creating issues for the Southampton back line. That pressure resulted in Iliman Ndiaye forcing a corner and Lindstrom’s corner ended up on the Senegalese forward’s foot but his shot was high and wide.

The first yellow of the match was given to Tarkowski who took Archer down to prevent a Southampton chance. Referee Madley was letting quite a bit go which was frustrating fans on all sides of the ground.

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Everton were getting on the ball but their final pass was lacking. The high press from Everton continued to be effective but a fast break from Archer split the Everton defenders and it was only Young who was there to force Archer to put the shot wide of the post.

McNeil then scampered forward but could not get a pass off and when Ndiaye picked up a loose ball his shot was easily handled by Ramsdale. A quick counter attack saw Archer put the ball dangerously across the Everton six yard box but Pickford palmed the ball to deny Manning.

As three minutes of added time was announced Harwood Bellis attacked a corner and his header was narrowly wide of the post.
The whistle was blown to end the half which had few real chances and both teams struggling to get any real control of the match. Everton had an xG of 0.24 which was higher than Southampton’s 0.19 xG.

Joe Aribo was brought on by Southampton replacing Adam Lallana. Southampton were on the ball again early but their penetration was being hampered by the Everton back line. Everton’s first real chance came from a good period pressure. A draw back by Ashley Young was passed to Orel Mangala who forced an excellent save from Ramsdale.

Iliman Ndiaye was getting on the ball more and his drive into the Southampton box was eventually stopped by Herwood Bellis. A whipped ball in by Mykolenko saw Calvert Lewin stretch unsuccessfully and he appeared to feel a twinge. A fast break from Southampton forced Michael Keane to be given a yellow card for impeding Archer.

The resulting free kick was driven low but it took a block from Tarkowski to prevent a Herwood Bellis goal. Everton quickly got the ball back down the pitch and Southampton were under pressure but the Blues could not make the telling pass.

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As the hour mark approached, Ryan Manning was replaced by Tyler Dibling for the Saints. The change seemed to energize the Saints. Dyche was also preparing Harrison and Beto to enter the fray and it was Ndiaye and Calvert Lewin who were on in their place.

Southampton were on top and a whipped cross from Walker Peters could not be turned into the net by Armstrong. A quick counter attack saw Stephens block off Lindstrom and the Evertonians called for a yellow which did not appear.

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A corner from Lindstrom was recycled and when Lindstrom crossed the ball again it was Michael Keane who headed the ball goalward only to have Ramsdale make another excellent block. The ball ended up in the net but a foul was given by Madley.

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Harrison gave the ball away and when Dibling attacked the box and laid it off for Walker Peters, the cross saw Armstrong contort his body but he could not get his header on goal. Southampton were patiently controlling the play and Everton were resolutely defending.

A nice run from Beto saw Jan Bednarek unable to keep up with the marauding Portuguese player and when he was scythed down the defender was given a yellow card. It was checked by VAR but nothing further was given. Lindstrom took the free kick and it was another good save by Ramsdale to prevent the goal.

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Everton’s best chance fell to Jack Harrison who got on the end of a Mykolenko cross and his touch went just wide of the goal. Seconds later, Mangala had his shot narrowly miss the corner. Fernandes was on the ground rolling in agony after trying to prevent Young from throwing in the ball. Thankfully he was given a yellow for his theatrics.

Ramsdale was finally beaten when Everton had a free kick that was delivered and headed back across the goal by Tarkowski to an onrushing Beto who had his header rattle the bar. The bar was still rattling when Southampton’s quick counter attack was pulled back by Aribo to Adam Armstrong who blasted the ball into the back of Pickford’s goal.

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A long ball from Keane over the top was controlled beautifully by Beto who continued and put the ball in the back of the net. The VAR officials drew the lines and it looked like Walker Peters was playing him onside. It was an eternity before the final decision was made and the red line was showed and it was offside.

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Four minutes of added time was announced. Everton were lobbing the ball forward in order to pressure the Southampton net but they could not penetrate and it was Andy Madley who ended the match and gave Southampton their first win of the season courtesy of some great goalkeeping by Aaron Ramsdale.

Everton MOTM – Jesper Lindstrom was given a chance to start today and his play on the right side going forward and defensively he was solid. Jesper Lindstrom probably had his most effective match in a blue shirt today. He worked hard to keep Fernandez at bay and he made several contributions going forward. When he first arrived, it was his pace that was his bread and butter. Sean Dyche did not see the defensive work that he required so it was some time before he was given a chance to start. Perhaps Dyche is trusting him defensively. Now let us see his pace going forward to help balance our attack.

There will be tougher games than this one as the season moves forward but there must be an acceptance that these are the matches from which we must gain points. Southampton control the ball and that was true today. Everton’s first half was lacking in quality in the final third and it was only when Beto came on that we had any quality chances.

It was surprising to see Branthwaite kept on the bench although it has to be said that the Keane Tarkowski partnership has been working well over the last few weeks. That being said, keeping Branthwaite out of the side cannot possibly continue for much longer. Tarkowski has been on the field for every Everton match since he arrived but currently he is not as effective as Keane during this latest period. The inclusion of Branthwaite’s left foot also gives us the ability to spread the play when we play it from the back which hasn’t been happening with Keane. We have been very narrow and this then forces Pickford to hoof the ball up the pitch.