Saturday, 26 August 1995
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Everton (2) 2 Southampton (0) 0
Limpar 35, Amokachi 43.
Everton:Southall, Barrett, Watson, Unsworth, Ablett, Kanchelskis, Horne, Parkinson, Limpar, Rideout, Amokachi. Subs Not Used: Ebbrell, Barlow,Kearton. Southampton: Beasant, Dodd, Benali, Magilton, Hall, Monkou (Hughes 21), Le Tissier, Watson (Neilson 60), Maddison, Widdrington, Charlton. Subs Not Used: Grobbelaar. Booked: Hall, Le Tissier.
Att: 33,668 Ref: J Winter (Stockton on Tees).
(c) Electronic Telegraph - et@telegraph.co.uk
Daily Mail: Everton gave the long-awaited Andrei Kanchelskis a tumultuous
welcome but by the end they were hailing unsettled Nigerian Daniel Amokachi.
Kanchelskis, who finally signed on Friday after five weeks of complex dealings
with Manchester United, occasionally showed his shooting power but had a
quiet debut after starting his first match since surgery in March. But Amokachi,
in the side only because of a late injury to Duncan Ferguson, had the crowd
on their feet with his surging runs and powerful presence in the box and
was rewarded with the crucial second goal when he headed over the advancing
keeper Dave Beasant. Everton’s other foreign star, Anders Limpar, also
played a key role in his side’s first victory of the season with a superb
opening goal after 35 minutes. Kanchelskis dribbled across field, left the
ball for Limpar and the little Swede exchanged passes with Paul Rideout and
then unleashed a 25-yard left-foot drive that gave Beasant no chance. Saints
had earlier dominated but a clearance off the line from David Unsworth denied
Matt Le Tissier, playing in a central role, from adding to his tally.
By Don Hardisty, The Electronic Telegraph, Monday 28 August 1995
ONLY the dashing white charger was missing as Andrei Kanchelskis rode to Everton's rescue, but the goals that kept Southampton pointless came from the rest of the Goodison foreign legion, Swede Anders Limpar and Nigerian Daniel Amokachi.
Matt Le Tissier will eagerly testify what a cruel game football can be. The Southampton skipper has scored more goals than the Everton team this season but while they have four points, enough to squeeze into the top half of the table, Southampton are bottom with none.
The transfer for which Everton had waited nearly three weeks and paid 5 million - or was it 6 million or might it eventually be 6.5 million? - and which had caused a bitter rift with Manchester United had gone through just in time for the Ukrainian to make his debut.
The timing could not have been more dramatic with Goodison Park still smarting from Arsenal's midweek victory there. Andy Hinchcliffe was sacrificed to make way for the new signing, while Amokachi took over from the injured Duncan Ferguson. Ferguson will see a specialist tomorow and may face another operation on his groin.
For 20 minutes the visitors looked in with a chance. Kanchel skis's only contribution in that time was blocked by Neil Maddison but there was little positive about Southampton's contribution. Manager Dave Merrington lamented: "If only we had more fire power."
When they lost Ken Monkou through injury, Le Tissier had too much to do. He saw one header blocked by David Unsworth who also stopped Jimmy Magilton's shot from the rebound and Everton edged their way into the game.
After half-an-hour Kanchelskis drifted inside and rolled the ball into Limpar's path. The little Swede completed a quick one-two with Paul Rideout before beating Dave Beasant with a low drive.
The tempo quickened towards half-time. Gary Ablett hit a long ball upfield, Richard Hall was beaten by the bounce and Amokachi knocked over Francis Benali in his dash to head over Beasant.
Southampton's second-half surrender was a dismal sight and Goodison thought Kanchelskis had finally scored the goal they were all waiting for when he struck a free-kick from 35 yards, but the defensive wall held, then Beasant saved as he tried again with the rebound from 20 yards.
Le Tissier almost surprised Neville Southall on 69 minutes but the Everton goalkeeper blocked his first shot and turned the second round a post. The burden weighed heavily on the Southampton skipper's shoulders and he ended up being booked for dissent.