sport news Southampton 1-2 Everton: Dwight McNeil and Conor Coady complete sensational ... trends now
Would Everton have come back to win this game last season? No, certainly not. Would Southampton manage to hold on to win it last term? Well, no.
Everton showed fight and togetherness as they came back from a goal down in emphatic fashion to make it seven matches unbeaten, the best run of the Frank Lampard era.
As for Southampton, it’s nothing new. Since the start of last season, they’ve dropped a league-high 35 points from winning positions in the Premier League.
Dwight McNeil scored the winning goal for Everton with a sensational half-volley finish
Joe Aribo had opened the scoring early in the second half for Southampton to put them one-up
But Frank Lampard's side hit back, as Conor Coady equalised, before McNeil's winner
Everton are now seven games unbeaten as they continue to build under Frank Lampard
Had Saints been able to hold on to leads, they would have been challenging for a Europa League spot last term. Obviously it doesn’t work out like that, but it’s a theme that has too often pockmarked the largely-impressive tenure of Ralph Hasenhuttl.
But this was all about Lampard’s Toffees. Their season has gone largely under the radar but they have turned the dismal losses into draws and, slowly, are being able to put away fellow mid-table clubs.
Joe Aribo put Southampton ahead on 49 minutes but, by 54 minutes, Everton had scored two quick-fire goals - via summer signings Conor Coady and Dwight McNeil - to turn this game on its head and send the away end into delirium.
After that Lampard’s men showed fight, resilience and - for once - even had a bit of luck as Saints were halted by heroic blocks, a stellar display from Jordan Pickford and, well, poor finishing.
It is fair to say the first half was exactly what you’d expect after a prolonged break in Premier League action. It was slow and lacking in goalmouth action.
Everton probably edged the opening 45 minutes and dominated possession but struggled to get in behind Southampton’s defence.
The one time they did manage to muster a sight of goal came after a weaving run from Demarai Gray, who skipped past two challenges but shot straight into the grateful grasp of Gavin
