They’ll have to rethink the old cliche that luck always goes against teams at the bottom.
Southampton greeted their first Premier League win of the season with the enthusiasm of a trophy lift but even their biggest fan would admit fortune favoured them.
Adam Armstrong’s late winner occurred just 25 seconds after Everton substitute Beto had hit the crossbar from a few yards.
And when Beto did slot home in the final minute, a long VAR check decided he’d been a toe offside.
Blues manager Sean Dyche also thought Saints should have been down to 10 men by then – Jan Bednarek escaping with yellow after bringing down Beto through on goal.
Adam Armstrong earned Southampton their first Premier League victory of the season
The 27-year-old wheeled away in celebration after finding the back of the net late on
Armstrong provided a composed finish to beat Jordan Pickford and seal all three points
None of it will bother Saints manager Russell Martin who badly needed the win after a run of one point from nine games.
‘Relief. Happiness. Pride,’ he said summing up emotions at the final whistle. I love being here and want to drag it out for as long as possible.
‘It would have been a horrific feeling to lose a goal after scoring.
‘My players have been criticised for stuff they’ve tried this season that hasn’t come off. I hope they get credit for this. We won because we stayed brave.’
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was man-of-the-match with brilliant saves from Orel Mangala, Michael Keane and Jesper Lindstrom with Martin adding: ‘Aaron was massive. I am surprised we were able to get him from Arsenal – it took a long time to woo hm and persuade him to come
‘I knew he would give us moments like that. His saves were amazing.’
The other hero Armstrong grabbed his first goal of the season with a tidy first-time finish from Yugi Sugawara’s cutback. The forward has recently been recalled to the Saints side with Martin admitting: ‘I lost sleep leaving him out because he is such a brilliant character.’
Southampton shaded the first half without registering a shot on target but Everton dominated thereafter and were baffled when Beto was blocked by Bednarek’s desperate challenge but VAR didn’t order the centre-half to go.
Beto thought he’d scored a late equaliser only for VAR to rule it out shortly afterwards
‘I am very surprised. As a defender you think you are off as soon as you do that,’ said Dyche.
‘The thing that worries me is that players who roll round get decisions. People who try to stay on his feet as Breton did, nothing gets given.’
Everton felt the consequences after Beto had hit the crossbar from James Tarkowski’s cross and Southampton went right up the other end to complete a smash-and-grab.
They face another important test at Wolves next weekend whilst Everton have to bounce back from losing their five-match unbeaten run.
