For the next 65 minutes it was pretty much same old stuff that we have watched for the last 2 seasons. I sensed the crowd certainly round me in the Upper Bullens were getting more frustrated as the game went on.

Then the introduction of Valencia for Lennon which was long overdue made the difference. He like Calvert Lewin earlier played closer to Lukaku who to me seems happier when he has someone close to take the weight off him.

The goal certainly changed the atmosphere, as prior to the goal you could clearly hear the players shouting to one another. Valencia was winning balls in the air linking play and when he won the penalty I think the feeling was score this and we win the game.

It was clearly noticeable that Lukaku was reluctant to give Baines the ball for the spot kick, but thankfully Baines took it off him and duly scored. Very disappointed to see Lukaku trudge back to the centre circle with no attempt to congratulate Baines.

But he finished brilliantly from a quick ball from Tom Davies, to wrap up the points. The result flattered us a little; let's hope that Valencia keeps his place for the game against Leicester, and Calvert-Lewin recovers quickly from his injury.

Everton played three matches in eight days.

Good win, an influx of talent is needed now and summer to hit the top six methinks.

The really lucky moment (or moment of brilliant defending, whatever you would like to call it) came when we were 2-0 and their left back I think sent in a peach of a cross that had 2-3 Southampton players waiting to turn into the goal, but for a wonder header from Ashley Williams that took it out for a corner. How that did not result in a goal, I will never know. Anyway, Everton dominated in the last 20 minutes and fully deserved the win.

Koeman might have stumbled on to his correct formation & starting XI. When all are available and from the present squad, I would go:

Robles;
Holgate, Williams, Funes Mori;
Coleman, Davies, Gueye, Barkley, Baines;
Valencia, Lukaku.

McCarthy, Barry, Jagielka, Lennon, Mirallas, & Calvert-Lewin should be no more than substitutes.

It could have resulted in him putting Baines off and him missing it and at 1-0 it could have changed the game. This is why Lukaku must go. He does not give a shit about the team.

Thankfully Baines does and he is a great professional and wasn't put off. I take my hat off to you Leighton!

And Defoe or Shearer would not be like this, they are decent people.

This sore will go on every time Baines has to take a penalty and it is not the way to ensure Baines is in the right frame of mind to take a penalty.

It is as simple as that.

The individual mistakes have by and large been eradicated, our vulnerability from a crossed ball is scary. Hence my hesitation in saying we are organized. Not blocking a cross is the biggest sin and both full backs are poor at it and receive little assistance either.

All this has come at a heavy price, we are creatively moribund, some might say the personnel ain't there, which is true but the same can be said of the he defense and Koeman has adjusted that to affect. We are getting fitter and this perhaps is paying a decent dividend. Koeman for me is on a short rein, but there are small signs of improvement, not sure why it's taken six months but hey ho.

Now then, a lot of chat as per about Ross. A player of high skill, but only if he has little or no time to think about it, instinctual. Simply put a high tempo game, with him up top I believe will get the most out of him. We have played turgid, tortuously slow build up this season, Ross has played poorly as a result. His career is on the edge this year – I hope it tilts the right way for him.