Southampton 1-0 EvertonC Austin (1)For Ronald Koeman it was the return to Southampton he probably expected but that did not make it any easier. After hearing some less-than-kind chants from a section of the home supporters the Dutchman then had to watch his new side being deservedly beaten by his old one. Stood on a touchline from where his reputation burgeoned, Koeman may well have wondered if he made the right decision swapping the south coast for Merseyside after all.
The goal that decided came early - after just 41 seconds in fact, as Charlie Austin struck from close-range and the truth was Everton never really recovered. As was the case against Swansea last week, their approach play was sluggish and limited but unlike in that fixture they could not muster a late equaliser. Indeed the visitors did not produce a shot on target and it came as no surprise to see a majority of the away supporters heading for the exit long before the final whistle had blown.
In contrast, those who filled the home sections were buoyant until the end. A section made clear their anger at Koeman for leaving the club in the summer in no uncertain terms early on - “We ***** hate you, Ronald Koeman” was one of the chants they directed their way – which but from there the concentration was all but totally directed towards enjoying a Southampton display that brimmed with intent and vigour. Claude Puel’s side recorded their first win since the 16th October with something to spare.
Everton’s starting line-up contained one change, and it was an expected one – Gareth Barry, available again after suspension, replacing James McCarthy in centre-midfield. In contrast, there was a surprise in the Southampton side from that which started the Europa League defeat at Sparta Prague, with 19-year-old Josh Sims handed his senior debut.
The winger, a member of England’s Under-17 European Championship winning-side of two years ago, has been a standout performer for Southampton’s Under-23 team for some team and Puel clearly hoped he could enhance the first-team’s attacking threat given their struggles to find the back of the net so far this season.
And it did not take Sims long to repay his manager’s faith. After Seamus Coleman could only direct Cedric’s cross into the teenager’s path inside the Everton six-yard area, he showed great reactions to quickly scoop the ball towards the nearby Austin who, from an unmarked position, was able to head the ball past Maarten Stekelenburg with ease.
It had been Sims charged-down shot moments earlier that led to the goal and in general the teenager was proving a menace to the visitors’ defence with his direct running and clever link-up play. Early days, but it looks as if Southampton’s much-vaunted academy has unearthed another star.
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Everyone else in red and white were also impressing as Southampton forced Everton back with a collective intensity that was suffocating those in blue. Sims tested Stekelenburg with a close-range header of his own on 17 minutes while the best the visitors could muster before the break was Idrissa Gueye’s 26th minute shot from Coleman’s low cross that ballooned over the bar. Unmarked inside the Southampton box, the midfielder should have done much better.
Everton had just one shot on target in the first half and, as was the case against Swansea the previous week, their display from the outset was sluggish and lacking in ideas. Few balls were played towards Romelu Lukaku and whenever the striker did receive possession he struggled to get past the typically robust and assured Virgil Van Dijk.
No doubt given a stern talking to by Koeman during the interval, Everton began the second half with greater purpose. Their threat did not increase much, however, with Lukaku and Yannick Bolasie both failing to trouble Fraser Forster with long-range efforts in the space of a couple of minutes.
Indeed it was Southampton who came closest to scoring again on 58 minutes, with Cedric and Austin once again prominent. The former whipped a cross towards the later, who having moved into space directed a powerful header towards goal. The ball looked to be nestling in the bottom corner only for Stekelenburg to keep it out with an eye-catching one-handed save.
Koeman made his first substitution soon after, bringing Gerard Deulofeu on for Aaron Lennon yet if anything it was the hosts who suddenly looked invigorated. Firstly Van Dijk showed his command of possession with a Beckenbauer-esque surge into the Everton area following a couple of neat one-twos and then Sims threatened to produce the moment of the match after kick-and-rushing past Leighton Baines and Ashley Williams and looked set only to mess up at the crucial stage by playing a weak square pas that was easily cut out by Gueye.
The same player then delivered a teasing ball across the Everton area and on 78 minutes came the moment when Southampton should wrapped up all three points. James Ward-Prowse drilled a long-range shot at goal which Stekelenburg failed to hold and as the ball slipped out of his reach, Austin collected it and played it back towards Ward-Prowse who now unmarked inside the area, screwed his resulting effort wide
The same player forced an excellent save from the Everton goalkeeper before receiving a standing ovation from the home supporters after being replaced by another academy graduate, Sam McQueen.
There was another outpouring of joy at the final whistle as Southampton secured a victory that moves them up to 10th. Everton, meanwhile, remain 7th having now only won one of their last eight league games. And next up is the daunting prospect of a visit from Manchester United.
Guardian