Match Report

Everton’s unconvincing five-game unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt on the south coast when they allowed bottom club Southampton to plunder the points late on.

A lethargic contest between two poor teams ultimately pivoted in the 85th minute when substitute Beto crashed a header off the crossbar at one end before Adam Armstrong struck the winner at the other 27 seconds later.

Beto had another potentially dramatic equaliser ruled out by a razor-thin offside decision by the Video Assistant Referee but, ultimately, Sean Dyche’s side fell well short of the levels required on the day.

With Abdoulaye Doucouré struggling in the week with an unspecified injury but Dwight McNeil able to play despite not training all week because of a minor knee complaint, the former Burnley man took his usual place behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin while Michael Keane was, once again, preferred to Jarrad Branthwaite, Orel Mangala started in central midfield and Jesper Lindstrøm was handed a rare start on the right.

Just like the meeting between the two clubs in the Carabao Cup in September, the pattern of the match was established early, with Saints dominating the ball and trying to play their way through an erratic press while Everton were content to sit off and try to force mistakes.

Lindstrøm prompted a comfortable save from Aaron Ramsdale with an early direct free-kick and the Dane later whipped in an excellent cross that just eluded Calvert-Lewin and Iliman Ndiaye in the middle but the visitors largely chased shadows for the first 20 minutes.

Though he didn’t appear to properly recover from a knock inflicted early on by Kyle Walker-Peters, Ndiaye was, as expected, the Toffees’ most creative outlet, jinking his way past his man on one occasion to force a corner midway through the first half and then engineering space for a tame effort on goal shortly before half-time but, on the whole, it was woeful fare.

Russell Martin’s side, meanwhile, looked more likely to affect the scoreline by giving the ball away in dangerous areas than through their efforts in front of Everton’s goal but they did briefly threaten late in the first period when Jordan Pickford had to get a glove on Armstrong’s low cross to divert it away from Ryan Manning at the back post and then when Taylor Harwood-Bellis planted a free header wide.

If Dyche had instructed his men to do anything differently in the second half, there was precious little evidence of it, though Mangala did test Ramsdale five minutes after the restart with a good side-foot shot from the edge of the box that the keeper batted over the bar and onto the roof of his net.

The pendulum then swung the way of the hosts who were starting to grow in confidence the more Everton illustrated their ineptitude going forward. James Tarkowski did well to deflect Harwood-Bellis’ goal-bound effort wide, Joe Aribo tried to take advantage of Ndiaye’s mistake in his own half but miscued his attempt to lob Pickford and Tyler Dibling’s cross from the right was just too much for Armstrong at the far post so he volleyed wide.

Everton’s best spell of the match arguably came in the 20 minutes before they conceded the decisive goal. Keane had stayed forward following a corner and was in the box when Lindstrøm swung in an invitingly ball that the defender stretched to meet, his header searching out the inside of the post before Ramsdale made an excellent stop with his out-stretched glove.

Then, after Beto was scythed down by Jan Bednarek, Lindstrøm forced another one-handed stop from the former Arsenal keeper with a sweeping direct free-kick and Jack Harrison, on for the struggling Ndiaye, ghosted in to meet McNeil’s deep delivery but could only touch it a yard wide.

Beto had come on for Calvert-Lewin in a double change in the 62nd minute and he came within inches of making another heroic impact off the bench. Pulled back by Dibling with six minutes left on the clock, he was once again in the six-yard box as Tarkowski met the dead-ball delivery with a first-time knock back across goal. Unfortunately, the Portuguese’s header came back off the woodwork and Southampton immediately countered.

In getting back, Vitalii Mykolenko had left the left-back area empty and when Yukinari Suguwara was played into the space behind McNeil, he was able to cross hard and low for Armstrong to bury a first-time shot into Pickford’s net.

There was still time for more late drama, however, as Beto pulled down a ball over the top with sublime control before rattling a shot under Ramsdale and into the goal, with no flag from the linesman to signal offside. Unfortunately, VAR Matt Donohue adjudged the striker to have been fractionally offside and the goal was chalked off.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Everton failed to create many real chances and allowed a rapid Southampton counter to win the game after Beto saw his close-range header smack the face of the bar, gifting the bottom side their first win.

Injury problems continue for Armando Broja, James Garner, Tim Iroegbunam and Youssef Chermiti, with Abdoulaye Doucoure added to the list of absentees. Dwight McNeil is declared fit but Branthwaite is only on the bench again. 

The two changes are Jesper Lindstrom coming in for Jack Harrison and Orel Mangala replaces Abdoulaye Doucoure.

The standard start for Everton, kicking it back to Pickford for the mind-numbing hoof upfield that loses possession. But they won a free-kick that Lindstrom struck nicely for Ramsdale to collect.

But The Saints looked to play joined-up football, passing it around plenty until Walker-Peters was slow to get back onside. Then 38 Saints passes before Everton got the turnover and broke but Lindstrom messed it up. However, Gana forced a great turnover in the Saints' penalty area but Calvert-Lewin wasn't really interested despite the ball in direct to his feet. 

Everton got forward quickly, Young to McNeil to Lindstrom but his cross evaded Calvert-Lewin. McNeil was fouled by Lallana but the ref saw an infringement when the ball went in. 

Everton were taking more control and playing the ball fairly well until it was meant to find Calvert-Lewin. The Saints tried to get forward a bit quicker but this time Archer was offside. Gana went down after he was baulked. 

Gana fed Ndiaye who cut in to somehow win a corner, which he then blasted high and wide (although it looked like a deflection, not given). A quick Saints free-kick saw a very strong sliding tackle on Archer by Tarkowski that was good value for the ensuing yellow card. 

Gana looked to break quickly but stalled and then saw it turned over when McNeil was dispossessed. Saints tried to mount an attack but didn't. Gana was called for a nothing foul. The free-kick was headed behind by Tarkowski for a Southampton corner, but it was played in too far back to threaten. 

Still, after 30 minutes, the home side had tasted possession in the Everton area, and wanted more. But Evern got forward with Calvert-Lewin on the ball, crossing to the spot where he himself should have been. 

Young was forced to take the 30-second treatment break for taking a drink on the touchline.  But Everton were largely controlling the play without really threatening, both teams seemingly poor in that fundamental aspect of the game. 

Mangala pushed the Blues forward, Mykolenko winning another corner, punched away by Ramsdale. Lindstrom tried to drive in on goal but Lallana surely impeded him? But no protest. 

Everton forced a turnover but the ball was played in behind Calvert-Lewin as he set off to make space. Saints broke well with Archer but he screwed his shot beyond the far post under close attention from Young. A deep free-kick found Tarkowski ghosting around the back but he could not get the header on target.

McNeil powered forward with the ball but could not play in Calvert-Lewin. Then Ndiaye burst through but could not beat Ramsdale with his weak shot. At the other end, it needed a crucial touch from Pickford to keep the ball away from Manning as Saints had one of their better spells, winning a corner that Howard-Bellis headed down well a yard wide. 

So ended a fairly even half, with few guilt-edged chances for either side.

The second half continued in much the same vein. Young did well to intercept and as Everton pushed up, Lindstom's cross was ballooned... but it came back around and Young played a great low cross for Mangala to hammer goalward, Calvert-Lewin ducking with Ramsdale blocking it.

Ndiaye got to run in with he ball but he was well tackled by Harwood-Bellis. 

Keane was forced to foul the faster Archer for a predictable yellow card. The free-kick was low but fell to Harwood-Belli, his shot deflected behind. The corner was cleared.

At the other end, Magala and Myko had shot blocked before Linsdtroom's better cross was headed behind before it could reach Calvert-Lewin. The corner from McNeil curled around the far post and out.

The Saint came forward and Pickford had to make a theatrical diving punch. Some like-for-like subs by Dyche on the hour — very early from him! Saints seemed inspired and a deep cross proved too difficult for Armstrong to convert. 

Lindstrom was cynically blocked by Stephens but no yellow card. The free-kick won a corner, but it did not reach Beto.  In the workaround, Mykolenko's deep cross saw a great diving header from Keane but Ramsdale palmed it onto the post and back onto his shoulder and onto the post again, as Keane tried to force it in but he was deemed to have fouled the Saints keeper. 

Saints got forward but Walker-Peters's cross was behind Armstrong who could not adjust his body position in time. Everton had to defend with depth and Young looked to relieve the pressure but his outball was not good enough to release Beto. 

Fernades was getting forward repeatedly and one lovely ball was cut out just as it approached Archer? who may have strayed offside with EVertn dropping too deep. Beto struggled with Bednereck who was shown a yellow card. But deemed by VAR not denying a goal-coring opportunity.

The free-kick was tremendous from Lindstrom, pawed away by Ramsdale. The corner came out to Harrison and was completely wasted with a terrible shot well off target. A great cross was met perfectly by Harrison but he touched it a foot wide instead of on target. Then Mangala pounced on the ball and drove into space but his shot was also terrible.  

Young was trying to take a free-kick with Fernandes hanging onto his shirt, so the Everton player tapped the ball in his face and Fernande went down as if shot at close range. Yellow card for being a dick! 

Beto was impeded by Dibling, the free-kick sent deep to Tarkowski, whose fierce close -range cross smacked off Beto's head and off the Saints bar! And of course, then Southampton went up the other end to see Armstrong score the simplest of goals off a straight-forward cross, completely unmarked. 

Branthwaite on, Keane up front but a great ball forward from Young was taken well by Beto and converted superly,... offside? A long VAR wait before it was ultimately ruled out.  

Only 4 minutes added after a 5-minute VAR delay and more Saints subs to make sure Everton could not equalize again. A scrappy 8 minutes were played out eventually without Everton getting close enough to threaten and the game was lost. 

Everton:  Pickford, Mykolenko, Keane [Y:56'], Tarkowski [Y:24'], Young, Ndiaye (62' Harrison), Mangala, Gueye, Lindstrom (88' Branthwaite), McNeil, Calvert-Lewin (62' Beto).

Subs:  Virginia, Begovic, Patterson, Coleman, O'Brien, Armstrong.

Michael Kenrick

Blunt... to all of this

The day should have begun at 6:20 am when I left the house to meet Chris at the bus stop, but it actually began when I awoke at 3 am and couldn't get back to sleep, eventually giving up trying at around 4:30am and getting up and watching a bit of cricket in the early hours.

What a series win for the Black Caps in India by the way. And what a joy to cathartically watch a sport you like but without it having a huge emotional pull on you, especially when things go badly... as they often do.

We arrived in Liverpool not long after 7 am. With time to kill, we grabbed a sausage butty and coffee from Gregg's before meeting Mike and boarding the 7:40 am train to London. It's always good to get to the game with Chris and Mike, two great well-connected Evertonians who seldom miss a game home or away, and it felt like a quick 2 hours or so to London as we nattered away.

With more time to kill, we grabbed a cuppa at Waterloo Cafe, a little place that makes a great breakfast and coffee and is much better than it looks. Before long, we were onto the next train, a 1-hour 20-minute journey to Southampton Central. It's the first time I've travelled to Southampton for the football, and that next train feels a lot longer than expected.

When we arrived, we walked on to a great boozer, the Duke of Wellington, for food, refreshments, and catch-ups with several more Evertonians, not least a good blue called John who I was passing a ticket on to.

Everyone left, John and I stayed a bit longer for an extra pint until it got pretty quiet in there, and not really knowing our whereabouts, we thought we'd better get a move on towards St Mary's.

Thankfully we had plenty of time when we got there. The bloke in front of me scanned his ticket and started going through the turnstile. I scanned mine but, at the same time, the guy came back for some reason, before changing his mind and going back through again.

Resultantly, my ticket then didn't work because the machine thought I had already gone through. The fella behind me sussed what had happened and we squeezed through one turnstyle together. Neither of us are exactly skinny so it really was quite the squeeze.

Into my seat in good time, the excellent Everton following really got behind the team from the get-go. The teams didn't respond, and the first half was about as forgettable as I can remember. A really poor effort from both sides, and given how bad they were, at half-time you were left scratching your heads on how we didn't take the game to them more.

Iliman Ndiaye was down quite early in the game and never really recovered from his knock, which didn't help, but generally it was poor all round, from both sides. There's a reason we're both where we are.

Dickheads of the Day, by the way, go to them two hilarious Southampton fans who thought it would be a hoot to – rather than go and watch their team – turn up, get seats next to the away end, and wear Harry Enfield "Scouser" wigs and moustaches with one T-Shirt stating "CALM" and the other "DOWN", and gesticulate at our fans near them all game. Really, what possesses people?

The second half, or at least from whatever point it was we finally kicked into gear and had a go, was much better. As a game, as an overall performance, this was poor against a really bad side. But on chances alone, to actually lose that game was quite the piss-take.

Great chances, in no particular order, came and went for Jack Harrison, Michael Keane, Orel Mangala and Beto. We nearly had a chance to do it against 10 men also when Jan Bednarek was spared (for my money, and I really can't be arsed catching the highlights retrospectively, a red card would have been harsh there as it looked like there was a covering defender).

And there were so many instances, in both halves thinking about it, when we had a chance to make one more key pass for a great chance, and we continually fluffed our lines. 

So to see James Tarkowski head the ball across goal and then see Beto's header crashed against the crossbar – to then see Southampton go down the other end and score within what felt like around 10 seconds was crushing. Again, I don't want to watch it back, but I don't know where Vitalii Mykolenko was (all game, for that matter!), and why Michael Keane and James Tarkowski have retreated back inside their 6-yard box by this point, so much so that James is literally in Jordan Pickford's way.

It's easy to say now, but I feel if Jarrad Branthwaite is in that situation, he's out and intercepting the ball. Anyway, 0-1, not long to go, and on comes Jarrad and Michael Keane was sent up front. Well, it worked last week! To be fair, Sean Dyche had nothing else on the bench to work with at this point.

And we did put the ball in the net but it was, of course, "deemed" to be fractionally offside after an eternal wait. I haven't watched it back but, on the train home later, I did see some still image of the VAR line angles used to decipher this being at a different gradient to that of the half way line, which can't be right can it? Especially given how tight it was. The linesman didn't think it was offside and nor did I.

It got frustrating at this point, not least because I was conscious of getting back to Southampton Central in time for the 17:30 train back to London Waterloo. The VAR call took so long, we were way into injury time before we restarted. And then more Southampton substitutions, cynical time wasting, and nothing going our way, led to a very annoying finish to the game as we trooped – no, marched – towards the station.

On the way back, Chris was saying how maybe we should play Ashley Young at left-back and put Seamus Coleman at right-back given Mykolenko's form. I wouldn't be averse to that change really, though rather than Seamus, given how effective Southampton's dynamic right-back was, I'd like to see Nathan Patterson given a go there, or ever Roman Dixon with his pace if it isn't too much of a risk to play him. Anything just to breathe some life into our attack.

The train back to London Waterloo was very busy, though I was able to get to London Euston in time to get the insanely busy 19:37 back to Liverpool Lime Street – and I was lucky enough to get a seat at least… I needed to. 

I went to the shop first to grab a sandwich and a few beers so got one of them meal deals but, for some reason, felt I could cope without paying for a bag, so seeing me trying to juggle three cans of Pale Ale, a sandwich, a bag of crisps, a bottle of Cloudy Lemonade, a match programme, wallet, glasses and whatever else in my limited amount of pockets and hands was probably quite the sight.

I ran into Stu getting off the train and we just made the bus back over the water. I was home just before 11 pm. A tiresome day and a kick in the proverbials to come away with nothing.

Like you, I don't love the football we play, but I think we've got to be realistic. If we spend way less than everyone else, we can't expect to be much better than where we are. The football isn't pretty but, come on, we shouldn't have lost that. We shouldn't have even drawn it. We could easily be on 6 more points, possibly more.

We'll win enough to stay up. We'll have a new stadium and The Friedkin Group next season, and both ourselves, Sean Dyche et al will be free of this exhaustive scenario.

In the meantime, celebrate the wins, shrug off the loses, it'll be okay.

Next win is at the London Stadium.

Player Ratings

Jordan Pickford: He didn't have a lot to do. Seemed a bit unsighted for the goal but it looked close to him and he probably should have done better. 6

Vitalii Mykolenko: I don't remember him doing much all game really. I thought the best player on the pitch was Kyle Walker-Peters so maybe Vitalii was a bit pinned back. Nevertheless, our Ukrainain wasn't in the game and I don't know where he was for the goal (though I haven't seen it back so there may be a good reason for that). 3

Michael Keane: He played pretty well.; he was aggressive and seemed to be under instruction to try and win the ball high up the pitch. He was very unlucky not to score what likely would have been a winner too. He's playing with good maturity. When we bring back Jarrad, and surely now is the time, I hope it's at James Tarkowski's expense and not Michael's. That's something I never thought I'd write! 7

James Tarkowski: Did fine, nothing spectacular. Was he unsighting Jordan for the goal or did I dream that up? 6

Ashley Young: Ashley again showed his worth with another solid display. Seemed to be the only one alert to the danger for the goal but he couldn't get there in time. 7

Idrissa Gueye and Orel Mangala: They were the biggest positive on the day and I hope, especially with the injuries we have accrued, that they continue together. Their collective nouse in the middle can be handy for us as we look to get back on track in these upcoming games. They both did very well and worked well together. 7

Iliman Ndiaye: The knock he took set him back and he had to come off. Shame as, had he have been firing today, he easily could have been our difference maker. 6

Jesper Lindstrøm: Worked hard. A bit hit and miss but you can see he has a bit of ability. I'd like to see him get another opportunity next weekend. 6

Dwight McNeil: Despite surely not being fit, it wasn't much of a surprise that he began the game as Sean seems to let Dwight play regardless of form or fitness. And his lack of fitness really showed in a very leggy display. 4

Dominic Calvert-Lewin: Nothing really went for Dominic but I didn't see a lot of application either. 4

Beto (for Dominic Calvert-Lewin): I thought Beto did really well. He used his pace well and seemed more up for the challenge than Dominic. He was unlucky with the header. On another day it goes in but it did came at him quickly. He certainly didn't deserve us to be behind within seconds of that happening. If he'd got under it and headed over, they'd never have scored! He was also hugely unlucky to see his goal disallowed, VAR lines don't get much tighter than that, and he took it very well. I don't think Dominic would have scored that. I'd play him instead of Dominic next game – another thing I never thought I'd write! 7

Jack Harrison (for Iliman Ndiaye): He got involved and did alright. Also very unlucky not to score and probably win us the game. 6

Jarrad Branthwaite (for Jesper Lindstrøm): Not on long so hard to judge but for the love of God, get him in next game! 6

Paul Traill

Match Preview

Dwight McNeil could miss this weekend's match against Southampton having not trained all week after sustaining an injury that forced him off against Fulham last Saturday.

Sean Dyche says that the winger "has a chance" of being involved as the club's medical staff work with him ahead of the trip south to St Mary's but the manager was merely "hopeful" rather than confident he could be involved.

McNeil went down needing treatment on his knee late in the 1-1 draw with the Cottagers and limped off to be replaced by defender Jarrad Branthwaite. 

As the team's leading provider of assists and the scorer of four goals in all competitions so far this season, he will be a significant miss for Everton and it will force Dyche into reshuffling his attacking quartet.

There is an opportunity to switch Jack Harrison to the left flank and give a rare start to Jesper Lindstrom on the right, with Iliman Ndiaye moving into the No 10 slot but, more likely, the manager will opt to push Abdoulaye Doucouré forward to once again play off the striker.

That would create a vacancy in central midfield that would have to be filled by Orel Mangala following the news that James Garner is facing a further month on the sidelines as he recovers from a stress fracture in his back.

Mangala came on as a late substitute against Fulham and had an assured cameo alongside the indefatigable Idrissa Gueye and the duo could partner each from the first whistle for the first time since the former arrived on loan from Lyon.

Up front, Beto's goalscoring heroics last weekend will at least give Dyche pause for thought over whom to deploy up front but the smart money would be on Dominic Calvert-Lewin keeping his place, with the Portuguese once again a viable choice off the bench if the Toffees need to change things up in attack. 

At the back, most eyes will once again be on whom out of Branthwaite and Michael Keane is selected alongside James Tarkowski. Keane, a goalscorer himself against Ipswich a fortnight ago and a solid performer in defence over the past few games, was chosen ahead of Branthwaite against Fulham but the young defender could get the nod now that he can be deemed to be fully fit.

The Blues are looking to extend their recent unbeaten run to six matches as they take on the Premier League's bottom club, with Southampton yet to win a game on their return to the top flight.

Manager Russell Martin continues to be entrusted at the helm and his side's performance against the Champions Manchester City last weekend, where they avoided a hammering and were narrowly beaten 1-0 by an early Erling Haaland goal, will have provided plenty of encouragement ahead of what Saints feel is a must-win game against Everton.

Flynn Downes is rated as 50/50 to be available for the south coast side due to illness and Martin suggested that a sickness bug might deprive him of a couple of others while goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, forward Ross Stewart and midfielder William Smallbone are all ruled out.

While Everton's performance against Fulham was flat and uninspiring, it nevertheless yield another point and Dyche will be looking for another professional away performance like that at Portman Road and another three points to keep his team's momentum going.

As they demonstrated in the EFL Cup at Goodison Park earlier in the season, Saints like to play out from the back and keep possession but they often play their way into trouble in the process. That will hopefully present the Blues with opportunities in transition and when the ball is turned over by the opposition in their own half.

Kick-off: 3 pm, Saturday 2 November 2024
Referee: Andy Madley
VAR: Matt Donohue
Last Time: Southampton 1 - 2 Everton  

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Mangala, Harrison, Ndiaye, Doucouré, Calvert-Lewin

Lyndon Lloyd

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