Saints took on the last unbeaten record in the Premier League exactly a year to the day of the Leicester City debacle, and put in not only the most comprehensive performance of Ralph Hasenhuttl's reign, but perhaps the best since the days of Ronald Koeman.

In the run up to the match the media were waxing lyrical about Everton's start to the season and how they might just be genuine title contenders, but by 4pm this afternoon although they stay top for the weekend, Saints are now only 3 points behind and that is a measure of the way that Ralph Hasenhuttl has transformed the side over the past two years.

Saints played everything right, they kept it tight at the back and then poured forward at speed, the final score was 2-0 but it could be easily have been 5, indeed it was a measure of their composure that as the game went on they didn't pour forward with abandon, but did so in a disciplined way, once we had got the lead the onus was on making sure we kept it and got all three points, not on racking up the goals.

When we made mistakes and gave away the ball we worked hard to get it back, I am quick to criticise the central defence but Jan Bednarek and Jannik Vestergaard looked the part today, they seemed to know their respective jobs and where they should be.

But that could be said for the whole team, there seemed to be an organisation and discipline not seen for a long time in a Saints team.

Alex McCarthy did not have a real save to make all match, but he did his bit and dominated the box when Everton mounted what seemed to be their only attacking moves either from corners or set pieces.

Everton will point to the players that they had missing, but in truth we were missing more players than them and we had a lot less in reserve to cover the loss than the Toffee's who spent almost £100 million in the summer .

Finding a candidate for man of the match is not hard, this was a team effort and virtually the entire side could stake a claim.

At the back the two central defenders were solid and the full backs not only defended but got forward quickly and linked up well.

In the centre of midfield Oriol Romeu was once again immense and alongside him James Ward Prowse scored a cracking goal in a move he started and finished.

On the flanks both Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong battled hard, they struggled to find an end product, but they never shirked their task, if they lost the ball they worked hard to get it back, some may have been surprised that Sky Sports gave Redmond man of the match, but they made just those points, it wasn't for the spectacular it was for his work rate.

Up front Danny Ings had a hand in both goals and Che Adams scored for the second game running, to show that he might be the junior partner, but he will soon be challenging for joint billing.

All in all this was the most satisfying performance in a long time, we didn't win a game and have to look back at a moment when our opponents missed a chance we had gifted them, we deserved this win from start to finish.

My only criticism is a minor one in that I thought we could have brought on Diallo a little earlier to give him some real game time, but if that is the worst thing I can think of to say after a game I'm not complaining.

Photo: Action Images

wibbersda added 17:59 - Oct 26 Redmond scored lowest in the whole team on sofascore. So not MOTM. Add to that Redknapp saying "not a red" shows that these pundits don't seem to have a clue.
0

Peterx added 07:22 - Oct 27 No chance the Red will be overturned, not when he had a go at KWP before the final tackle with the sole intention to bring him down, and in slo-mo also looks like an ankle breaker. Much worse tackle than the one Bertrand put in a year back and got sent off in the rain. Everton are probably going to lose the next two games at least without Digne, Richarlison and possibly Coleman teams can just concentrate on James and DCL and mark them out of it. Thats why Ancelotti is panicking, but waste of time appeallng.

0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Birmingham City Polls