Balclays Premier League
Goodison Park - Saturday 29th September 2012
Everton 3
- Osman 25′
- Jelavic 32′, 38′
Southampton 1
- Ramirez 6′
Att: 37,922
Match Report
Well, that was a nasty shock.
Not so much the 3-1 loss to Everton, but the injury to Morgan Schneiderlin, following on from the injury to Jack Cork. The pair of them remaining fit are the key to winning home games, which should enable Saints to continue in the Premier League next season.
Other than that, this game amply demonstrated the defensive frailties which Saints have had for a lot longer than just this season. I think almost all Saints fans were clear that the club needed new centre backs (We at least got a good one in Yoshida), but it also needs wide players that can give cover to the full backs.
Fox has got a lot of stick for his defending and was dropped again for this match, but ever since he came to the club he has played behind Lallana on the left. Now, much as I love Lallana he does go AWOL from the left side of the pitch for large portions of the game and that leaves the left back very exposed.
Changing the left back does not solve that problem. There is the same problem on the right, but at least Puncheon does have a semblance of an idea how to help the right full back.
The important thing though is not to make panic decisions, as fundamentally Saints look a proper Premier League team going forward. It is just defending that needs attention and probably not even a change of personnel would alter that.
The team has just got to get used to the step up to the Premier League and react a lot quicker. That includes the management. The team can get it right. The second half against Villa demonstrated that. It just has to be delivered on a more consistent basis.
Everton were very impressive in this game, but it would do us all well to remember that they have not got to this stage overnight. They have not got there by changing the manager, but by patient work and building the team.
Apart from the change enforced by Schneiderlin's injury, meaning a start for the excellent young Ward-Prowse, there were starts for Richardson at right back and Rodriguez up front.
The game started brightly for Saints with Ramirez converting a cross from Lallana to open his account for Saints in the sixth minute. Five minutes later Rodriguez missed a one on one with Tim Howard in the Everton goal. If that had gone in the complexion of the game would have been a little different.
As it happened, Everton equalised through Osman on 25 minutes and from then to the end of the half it was all Everton, with Jelavic scoring twice.
Saints got a grip of their game in the second half, with Rickie Lambert going close, but another goal would not come and Everton ran out worthy winners.
Channonite 30.09.2012
Teams
Everton
- 24 Howard
- 03 Baines
- 05 Heitinga
- 06 Jagielka
- 18 Neville
- 23 Coleman
- 21 Osman (Distin - 90' )
- 22 Pienaar
- 25 Fellaini
- 07 Jelavic (Anichebe - 77' )
- 11 Mirallas (Oviedo - 80' )
Substitutes
- 01 Mucha
- 15 Distin
- 34 Duffy
- 08 Oviedo
- 19 Gueye
- 27 Vellios
- 28 Anichebe
Southampton
- 12 Gazzaniga
- 02 Clyne (Reeves - 81' )
- 03 Yoshida
- 06 Fonte
- 22 Richardson
- 08 S Davis
- 10 Ramirez
- 16 Ward-Prowse
- 20 Lallana (Chaplow - 90' )
- 07 Lambert
- 09 Rodriguez (Mayuka - 81' )
Substitutes
- 01 K Davis
- 05 Hooiveld
- 29 Reeves
- 21 Guly
- 27 Chaplow
- 42 Puncheon
- 24 Mayuka
Match Stats
Possession
- Everton 56%
- Southampton 44%
Shots
- Everton 17
- Southampton 8
On target
- Everton 9
- Southampton 2
Corners
- Everton 10
- Southampton 3
Fouls
- Everton 2
- Southampton 3
