Match Preview

The defeat at Birmingham and the manner of it has really set the alarm bells ringing among the fans, leading to some serious soul-searching, at least among the Internet community.

Coupled with the publication of the Investment in Everton assessment of the club's current financial plight, the team's disastrous form since the turn of the year has finally brought home the crushing reality that we are no longer the Big Five club we once claimed and qualified to be.

So while the international break has seen all manner of empassioned scheming on the part of Blues fans as how best to rescue this once-great club, it's about time the players started showing the same passion and commitment to the future, the immediate aspect of which looks destined to involve another relegation scrap unless things change pretty rapidly on the pitch.

With most of his squad returning from International duty, David Moyes will again face quite a challenge to motivate his players for the visit to St. Mary's.  Only Thomas Gravesen came away on the winning side from the midweek action and, on past evidence, he is the most unlikely to replicate his form for his country.  But he remains our most productive central midfielder....

Once again, you would expect changes from Moyes.  The three-pronged attack employed at St Andrews clearly had no effect, although that was as much due to the complete ineffectiveness of the midfield than anything else.  As much as Duncan Ferguson's form has improved since his bust-up with the manager, he remains a frustrating liability in terms of the effect he has on his teammates.  Whether it is the gameplan or not, the players continually resort to route-one football.... just as they always have done when things aren't going well.

So, Moyes faces the dilemma of whether to keep Big Duncan in there, even though he has offered little in recent weeks, or revert back to an attack based on pace.  He must also decide whether or not to start with Wayne Rooney when he proved both this season and last that he is more effective coming off the bench.

With Tomasz Radzinski and Francis Jeffers mis-firing, and Kevin Campbell without a goal all season, Everton's supposed "embarrassment" of attacking riches (did anyone seriously subscribe to that belief?) is looking anything but.  There is a case for trying something completely different and throwing James McFadden into a forward role, although that is unlikely... sadly!

Once again, the key will be in midfield where Moyes has struggled to find a reliable partner for Gravesen.  Whereas Lee Carsley was dependable last season, he has been found wanting at times this time around; Li Tie has barely figured and is out for the season anyway; Tobias Linderoth and Scot Gemmill appear to be out of the picture; and Alex Nyarko has proven without doubt that he is not the answer either.

So the position that needed the most attention during the transfer window and that, once again, went unresolved in any shape or form (not even a loan deal) is still the one that could be Everton's undoing.  Kevin Kilbane played for Ireland in central midfield on Wednesday and the way he has been playing it might not be a bad idea to try him there.  Even taking a punt on Joseph Yobo alongside the Gravedigger would be worth a shot at this point!

Whatever formation and line-up Moyes plumbs for, the players have absolutely got to show more passion, guile and creativity than was on show against Birmingham.  Even the goals against Manchester United in that fabled comeback all came from set-pieces.  They also have to tighten up at the back as a matter of urgency, having conceded seven goals in their last two outings.

Southampton are not that bad a team to be playing away from home right now.  In turmoil off the field because of the vacancy created by Gordon Strachan's decision to leave management, the Saints have won just once in seven games.

They have not scored in over three hours of football but also don't concede many.  Combined with Everton's poor goalscoring record, this one looks to have 0-0 written all over it!

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Stats

This will be the 84th meeting between Everton and Southampton in all competitions, and the 42nd at Southampton, and the 3rd at St Mary's Stadium.  This will also be the 24th meeting between the sides in the Premier League, and the 12th at Southampton (and the 3rd at St. Mary's Stadium).

Everton's full record against Southampton is:

Our record away to Southampton is:

In the two matches Everton have played at St. Mary's Stadium, we have won 1 and lost 1, with both scorelines being 1-0.

The last match between the two sides was earlier this season on 13 October when we drew 0-0 at Goodison Park.  The last match at Southampton was on 11 September 2002 when Southampton won 1-0.

Everton's biggest victory at Birmingham is 4-0 on 3 October 1987.  The heaviest defeat has been 3-0 which has happened on three occasions, the last being 17 March 1983, with the first being in the first match Everton ever played at Southampton in the 1900 FA Cup.

The most common victory at Southampton, for Everton, is split four ways between 1-0, 2-0, 2-1 and 3-1, which occurring twice each in Everton's 12 victories.  Southampton's most common victory is 1-0, which has happened on 5 of their 20 victories.  The most common draw between the sides is 2-2, which has happened 4 times out of the 9 draws in total at Southampton.  The matches at Southampton have tended to provide goals as the teams have averaged just under 3 goals per match in the 41 in total.

Everton's record for 21 February is:

This will be the first meeting between the two sides on this date.  Everton's only other Premier League match on this date was in 1996 when Everton suffered a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United.

Milestone's that can be reached in this game:

• If Alessandro Pistone starts the match, it will be his 50th league start for Everton.
• If Tony Hibbert starts the match, it will be his 50th league start for Everton.
• If Lee Carsley starts the match, it will be his 50th start for Everton in all competitions.
• If Wayne Rooney scores a hat-trick before the end of the season, he will be beat William Dean's record of the youngest ever Everton player to score three goals in a match.

Steve Flanagan

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