Everton hold on at St. Mary's
Coady, McNeil score first Blue goals in comeback against Southhampton
Give away first goal, check. Sounds like Everton. But this isn’t the recent Everton, who at times, haven’t even flattered to deceive.
This is Frank Lampard’s Everton! This Everton doesn’t collapse at the first sign of distress and it can hold on to a lead. And the end of the day, it wasn’t pretty but it was the Blues’ second victory of the season.
One of the rare things in a football season, let alone a match is a mistake by Idressa Gueye. Early in the second half Gueye lost control of the ball and Joe Aribo scored four minutes into the second half.
It was following a familiar script for Everton, who played well in the first half, but couldn’t score. Everton won all six of their corners in the first half.
But this is Lampard’s club and within five minutes, they had given Southhampton the Blues. Three minutes after Southhampton’s goal, Demari Gray swung in a great cross to the far post from the left. Amadou Onana headed the ball back to the near post in an Felliaini-like move and Connor Coady met it at the near post to score the first goal of his Everton-career that counted. That made it 1-1 after 49 minutes.
Three minutes later, Dwight McNeil joined the first Everton goal club with a thumbing half-volley that exploded from his left foot and smashed into the back of the net. Hey, hey, it was 2-1 Toffees
Two minutes later had a chance to join the first-goal club, but the big Belgian midfielder headed wide.
For much of the rest of the match, it was squeak bum, hide your face in the hands and make sure you had your lucky shirt on as Southampton took control of the game and at times Everton looked like they were thinking where they could go for a boys’ night out.
“Can we get to Amsterdam from here, Tom?”
“Why are you asking me, Tark? Just because I have long hair, I bet.”
It was all hands on deck, everyone to the pump, all bodies on the line or whatever desperate defending cliche you like as Southhampton kept pouring forward.
Jordan Pickford continued to demonstrate why he is England’s No. 1 with some good saves and Everton did put their bodies on the line as the Saints had 21 shots on target in the game. Everton had 5
After six minutes of fingernail chewing added time, Pickford made a save and The Blues had sixth unbeaten game and second win in a row. Seamus Coleman made his start of the league season and was very solid and got some good blocks in and well, was just Seamus.
Next up for the Blues is Manchester United on Sunday at Goodison. Kickoff is 6 pm, so you watch the Blues and still catch about a half of a NFL game if you want.
NOTES: Everton have had two match-winning goals denied because of VAR, otherwise this would have been the Blues’ fourth straight win and they would be knocking around the top four. This Lampard’s second away victory as Everton manager. It’s also the first time this season Everton have scored twice and come from behind to win.