Once again for the umpteenth time Everton failed to take their home form away as the Toffees went down to yet another miserable defeat at Southampton yesterday.
After a performance that drew plaudits last weekend for the win over Leeds, this was a dreadful loss as yet again the same Everton players who excelled a week ago were ultimately just awful at St Mary’s.
I cannot remember ever seeing a football team that is so insanely inconsistent. One week they are energetic, determined and focussed then as soon as the team coach leaves Merseyside those same players are weak, lacklustre and embarassingly incompetent.
It’s almost like there is a set of dopplegangers who come in and replace the players by the time the team coach arrives at the latest away ground! They look the same, but the performance is always the total oppositite of what we see at the Grand Old Lady.
The Toffees did actually start yesterday’s game well and at first seemed up for the fight, trying to carry on with the sort of performance that we saw last week. Again, like last Saturday there was a very early chance but Anthony Gordon couldn’t take it.
Everton also had a good shout for a penalty early on and of course again didn’t get the decision and although Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the ball in the net it was also ruled out for offside.
However, Jordan Pickford kept the away team in the match making a series of excellent saves as the Saints pressed well and increasingly dominated the Blues.
Once more a totally unforced individual error opened the door for the home side to score their first goal. Micheal Keane, yes him again, played a poor ball forward and substitute Andre Gomes (who was absolutely abysmal) lost it far too easily in midfield, and with the usual frightening ease Southampton were in to make it one nil.
The Saints could have had more goals and probably should have, with the hosts hitting the woodwork on several occasions as well.
Eventually, Southampton added a well-deserved second and another important match in Everton’s fight for survival had gone.
That survival is still very much up for grabs and it is increasingly apparent that unless the Blues can get enough points at Goodison Park, then it’s very hard to see them staying up as who would bet on Everton winning another away game, ever?
Well, the next home game is pretty straightforward, it’s only champions Manchester City!