Two goals in two minutes helped Everton come from behind to pick up all three points away at Southampton recording successive wins for only the second time since Frank Lampard’s arrival.
Jordan Pickford returned in goal for Everton, with captain Seamus Coleman making his first league start of the season after Nathan Patterson picked up an injury on international duty. The first half was one of very few chances to report on, whereas the second half was the complete contrast.
After not having much to do in the first half, Pickford was picking the ball out of the back of his net 4 minutes after the restart. Larios Lopez ran into open space in the middle of the Everton half, giving the ball to Che Adams who set up the unmarked Joe Aribo who smashed the ball low into the far corner.
This woke up the Everton players and they hit back immediately. Demarai Gray whipped in a delightful freekick from deep, picking out Amadou Onana who nodded the ball across goal to an unmarked Connor Coady who volleyed in from close range.
From the restart Everton almost conceded again, James Tarkowski played a sloppy pass out to Seamus Coleman which was picked up by goalscorer Aribo. He picked out Che Adams in the box who had his shot blocked by Tarkowski, that fell to Stuart Armstrong, but his shot was blocked by Mykolenko before James Wade-Prowse’s shot was blocked by Coleman and Everton managed to clear and got what was the winner.
Alex Iwobi who is second to Kevin De Bruyne for chances created in open play looked for Onana in the box, he went down under pressure from Walker-Peters, but the ball fell perfectly for Dwight McNeil. He steadied himself before rifling the ball past a helpless Gavin Bazunu.
Everton had chances to kill the game off with Onana putting a header wide and with better composure, Gray should have put the game to bed when he was played in one on one. With 20 minutes left, Everton started to drop deeper and deeper, inviting pressure onto themselves but, Jordan Pickford was on top form.
Adam Armstrong was brought on at the hour mark, and 10 minutes after his introduction he almost got the leveller. After some neat footwork, sending Gueye and Coady one way, he fired the ball towards goal but Pickford was equal and pushed the ball wide for a corner.
Southampton had a golden chance in stoppage time to grab the equaliser, but the ball fell to debutant Duje Ćaleta-Car, but the defender fired the ball over the bar.
In seasons gone, Everton would have crumbled and at the very least drawn that game, if not lost it late on due to pressure. But this season, this defence has leaders and is one of the reasons why Everton now holds the best defensive record in the league this season. (Read more about that HERE)
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We all know what happened last time we went 7 unbeaten… We beat Miley Cyrus to number 1!
ALEXA… PLAY SPIRIT OF THE BLUES
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