Everton have won away from home againas the Blues win at Southampton 2-1

Southampton 1 Everton 2. Did that happen, was it real, have Everton actually won a match away from Goodison Park!?

It’s actually hard to believe that Everton have managed to secure three points away from home as they beat Southampton 2-1 at St Mary’s.

The Blues came into the game after last Sunday’s awful match against Tottenham, needing three points as they skate dangerously close to the relegation zone.

Marco Silva also desperately needed the win too as he continues in his job despite the dreadfully poor run of results this season.

Silva started with Cenk Tosun playing up front and as expected Morgan Schniederlin slotting into midfield in a modified Everton side.

The Toffees started well and were soon ahead through a fine Tom Davies goal, which was no more than the Blues deserved.

Most of the first half was dominated by the Toffees, however as so often the team wasted some good chances to extend that lead. And so predictably Everton were made to pay for this wastefulness.

Straight after the break, Southampton were level through another bit of misfortune as a deflected cross fell to the feet of who else but Danny Ings, who once again scored against Everton.

Now the match swung in the Saints favour and they were very much on top for the next period of the game.

This match was played between two sides desperate for the points to arrest the slumps they have been in and so the quality was variable as both Everton and Southampton strove for the winner and the points.

It was the Blues who regained the lead after a swift counter-attack and Richarlison scored from the excellent Djibril Sidibe’s cross.

Everton now had to hold out to secure the points. They managed to do so and claim the club’s first away win in the Premier League since the Blues beat West Ham back in March.

So what can we take from this much-needed victory on the south coast?

At least the Toffees have jumped up the table to the heady heights of 13th, at least until tomorrow’s games. This is hardly ecstatic stuff though is it?

While the points are obviously welcome, once more Everton wasted numerous chances and this is a problem that simply has to be addressed.

Silva started Tosun and although he didn’t score, he did equalise against Spurs last weekend. But the problem of scoring goals and finding who can play up front hasn’t gone away and continues to plague the team.

But leaving aside questions about the manager for once, one really positive thing for me is to see the developing progression of two former Everton youth academy products; Tom Davies and Mason Holgate.

Both came into the Blues team a few seasons back and Davies in particular played very well and got some rave reviews with much talk about his promise and potential.

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He then almost inevitably had a setback second season and his form and confidence dipped. Holgate had also shown glimpses of his ability but he kept being moved from centre-back to right-back and spent time on loan.

Neither had featured at all a the start of this season but circumstances and injuries have given both another shot at first-team football.

The lack of another centre-back signing after Yerry Mina and Michael Keane, meant that Holgate was the only other option. And of course the injuries to Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Andre Gomes have given Davies his chance.

So far they have both taken that chance with both hands, This is great to see and long may that continue.

Everton finally win away again

By Matt Townsend | Nov 9, 2019

Southampton 1 Everton 2. Did that happen, was it real, have Everton actually won a match away from Goodison Park!?

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