It was another bare to the bones side and another defeat, but this more than any of the previous defeats had something there, a fight, a spirit, an ability to not be overrun and therefore a hope that the end of the nightmare winless run is in sight.

The first shock of the night was that Fraser Forster was preferred in goal to Alex McCarthy, manager Ralph Hasenhuttl dressed it up as an opportunity to give Forster some practice before he comes in for the FA Cup game at Bournemouth, but with that still almost three weeks away and with another couple of game after this one to go, that excuse didn't seem to hold much water.

The truth is that when you are in a losing streak you have to try different things to break that run and with so many outfield players in injured this was just about the only option he had left.

This was going to be a game where Everton showed their top 4 credentials and there were some on social media ahead of the game predicting a landslide and to be truthful for around 15 minutes or so that looked like it was being the case.

Everton have a simple formula, it is about getting the ball up to the big two of Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin and this they did in the 9th minute, the goalkeeper pumped the ball forward and we were a goal down.

We struggled to get to grips with the home sides direct game as they looked to pumped it forward and also win free kicks to put the ball into the box, they scored a second but VAR showed that it wasn't even a close call and it was chalked off.

But in that moment something changed, Saints seemed to get their confidence back, yes they weren't getting forward much at this stage, but they started to pass the ball and look comfortable in doing it.

We seemed to have realised that actually Everton weren't very good, we stopped being scared of them and took them on.

Everton were still a danger, but we were starting to deal with the aerial threat although at set pieces our marking was not all it should have been.

Just before the break we had a decent chance and Calvert-Lewin was forced into a diving header to block for a corner, the commentators claimed that our first shot on target was in the dying minutes, but if this wasn't a shot on target, blocked only yards from the line I don't know what was.

The second half saw Saints come out if not all guns blazing at least with confidence and we looked the better side, as the game went on we started to dominate possession and when Nathan Tella replaced Salisu just after the hour and we changed shape a little we looked the side most likely to get the second goal of the game.

That nearly came when Moussa Djenepo was put through but sadly he blazed wide from a good position.

There was a late finale as Saints got a succession of corners, from one they had a goalmouth scramble in which two shots were blocked close in before the ball fell to Jannik Vestergaard, he seemed to lose his footing and his shot was not as hard as it could have been and Pickford scrambled it away for a corner, this was claimed to be our only effort on target, but if that was the case, what were the two efforts blocked only seconds earlier.

Everton held on with Pickford flapping at several corners in the dying minute, but although this was another defeat it felt different from the previous ones, it felt like something was back in the side, a new found confidence and energy lacking in previous games.

This was still a defeat though, but after a run such as the one that we are having, it is not as easy as just clicking the fingers and everything is ok again, we had to draw a line in the sand and this could be it.

Not everything was perfect though, I have always been a supporter of Nathan Redmond, but this was his worst game in a Saints short in a long time, he was weak in the tackle, his passing was poor and he lost the ball too many times, he should have been off a lot earlier than he was.

What kept us going was the centre of midfield, James Ward Prowse did what he always does and Stuart Armstrong deputising for Oriol Romeu had a glorious game, strong in the tackle and with some surging runs.

Moussa Djenepo should also get a mention in despatches, he worked hard in getting up and down and did some good work at both ends of the pitch.

This result means nothing now, the line has been drawn, hopefully we will now have some of the injured players returning to the side, Ibrihama Diallo is expected to return soon as is Kyle Walker Peters, two key player in two key positions that will redress the balance of the side.

Also the return of Minamino to the squad will be a boost.

So it is not about the past now, it is about the future, and that starts at Bramall Lane on Saturday, Sheffield United are all but down now, it will be a few weeks before that is mathematically confirmed and they are still battling, but truth is they are not up to the task, we have to go up there and win well.

If we do that whispers of relegation will quickly go away, we only need two more wins to virtually guarantee safety, it would be nice if they could be achieved at the Blades and then at home to Brighton, then we could go into the FA Cup quarter final at Bournemouth with not only confidence but also the freedom to play without fear.

Photo: Action Images

saintlee added 17:37 - Mar 2 Just a couple of points ro make. With Calvert-Lewin being so prominent in the air, why was Vestergaard not marking him as soon as Evertons gameplan showed itself. As soon as Vestergaard started to pick him up he hardly had a kick. Point two. Why was Nathan Redmond still on the pitch after 80 minutes. He was having an absolute shocker and should've been taken off at half time. I know we are short of numbers but Tella or Jankewitz surely couldn't have done any worse. Armstrong did have a good game in the middle but I do feel he's wasted there. Jankewitz for Redmond at half time and move Armstrong wide or a straight swap with Tella could've given us more impetus going forward. Redmond was doing more harm than good. Frankly, he is just not consistent enough to deserve a start. Signs are there that we can get results sooner rather than later but the team looks very unbalanced without an out and out right back.

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underweststand added 19:05 - Mar 2 We've seen it all before, and whilst we can highlight the better points in every games, we still end up with none. Most of the criticism lands on the defenders, but many clubs concede goals and still get something out of the game. In the last 13 Prem. games., we had more % possession in 10 of those matches and chalked up over 100 shots but realised ...just 6 goals. I'm sorry to say it about Ings & Co. but we really are abysmal in front of goal. Danny has managed just two goals in his last 10, and Ché 's record is almost approaching last years drought - none in 15 apps. Walcott managed a couple before being injured. I'm sorry to have to criticise any Saints player but Nathan Redmond really doesn't deserve any game time having managed one goal (a late sub's goal) v. Sheff. Utd in mid-December when the game was already won. He has always lacked consistancy and wavers between an OK game ...and then plain b****y awful. Ralph really needs to find out what will is needed to get him back on track. At the moment we have no alternatives.

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kristianJ added 21:53 - Mar 2 Agree with the comments on Redmond. There have been times in the past where he has been unfairly picked on, but last night he was really poor. Can’t understand playing Bednarek as a right back. He has no pace and offers nothing in an attacking sense. He should be playing alongside Vestegaard at CB. I thought Salisu was pretty poor, yes Calvert-Lewin was a touch dirty, but he barely got off the ground when jumping. Also, they were mainly hands to the face not elbows, so not quite sure why he was on the ground for a minute. The lad needs to toughen up. I think we badly miss KWP. It’s crazy that we let Valery and Vokins go out on loan. We were asking for this too happen given the fixture schedule, I just hope Bertie (who is no spring chicken) doesn’t get injured too. In their absence we could do worse than sticking Stephens at right back. He’s a bit more mobile than Bednarek. Not ideal, but what else can we do? Having said all that I fancy us to get something from Sheff utd, maybe a point- which would be something to build on. Thankfully we have a healthy buffer over the bottom 3!

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underweststand added 07:39 - Mar 3 A lot of good points made by several of the above, but this is one game where Saints were " bullied " out of a result. One basic fault is that too many of our players are "lightweights" and don't have the same physique of many of their opponents. Quite a few of the "so-called physical challenges" from the " more muscular " Everton players were downright fouls, and on another day they might have had a couple of red cards. Djenepo for one took a heck of a pasting and had his foot trampled at least twice ....(quite by accident of course, Referee). We have height at the back of course, but that is also a bit of a handicap as it means they lack mobility and pace to chase down a fast-moving striker. Sadly Romeu is a one-off and his presence in MF is impossible to replace in the present circumstances. Likewise, Salisu who shows a lot of skill, but is fast learning that life in the Prem. isn't a tea party. Stuart Armstrong DAJFU in midfield, but he is far more effective as an attacking player, and the lack of creativity was obvious. Whilst we still lack the services of a fit Minamino, Walcott and Diallo , all these three are clearly "understrength" in comparison to the " no-nonsense", muscle-men who dominate the midfield in many clubs, and whose best skills are.. in avoiding yellow cards.

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davidargyll added 09:08 - Mar 3 Having read all these comments about the squad and how poorly we have been performing, why we still play Redmond, why we sent out so many at least half decent players on loan, is the real reason staring us in the face? Ralph is no fool and I refuse to believe that he would not do things another way if he could. But he plainly can’t. Now why is that? He has more or less admitted a month ago that he has had his hands very firmly tied behind his back when he said there was no money to buy players. So I reckon the most plausible reason is that the finances of our beloved club are in a far more parlous state than anyone is admitting. For starters there’s the matter of that ridiculous loan at almost 10% interest the club was forced (?) to take out to tide us over. Then on the pitch RH has to play Redmond, rubbish though he may be, because there’s no one else with experience who he can risk getting injured. He had to let Valery and Vokins go out on loan because management told him they have to save money. And Danny won’t sign a new contract because he knows what’s going on under the surface and doesn’t want to be tied into a situation which could seriously run out of control. I think it’s time management told us what is really going on.

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erick added 10:41 - Mar 3 I don't why the loss didn't make me angry as Redmond staying on the pitch for 87 minutes. Felt the youngsters could have had a much bigger impact. Jan was poor at Rb once he was shifted his game grew. Giving Bertrand a new contract will be no different than the shane long contract( player signs for 2 years yet his usefulness has ended). Ings was so selfish, the goal drought has affected him mentally. No service to Che & Ings. Djenepo essentially was wingback which limited him, Would like to see the bernado Silva role in him. Wardprowse has been poor the last month or so but the Everton game he really stepped up, would like to see more of him with the ball on his feet breaking the press and running towards opposition defenders. Armstrong is no deep lying CDM his best position is between opposition defence and mid. Our first shot on target was vestergaard in the latter stages of the game. The loss in this game I would attribute it to tactics. Ralph was to blame for the loss, he didn't do anything that could affect the scoreline while we were losing, he brought watts in the 88 mins what was he expecting to salvage? How was Jankewitz allowed to start against #MUFC while he couldn't get a minute in this game? Djenepo throwing to bednarek and he clears it to opposition team which allows them to come to us again! Which tactic is that. Next season we need RCB(sell Stephens, bednarek becomes fourth choice) GK( we need a younger gk who is good on his feet) 2CDM/CM ( wardprowse game suffers while he plays for long stretches without a break. Sell Redmond, Bertrand Stephens, 1Gk, long, don't buy Walcott or minamino. This squad is so lean we need a new whole team of buys

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erick added 10:44 - Mar 3 I don't why the loss didn't make me angry as Redmond staying on the pitch for 87 minutes. Felt the youngsters could have had a much bigger impact. Jan was poor at Rb once he was shifted his game grew. Giving Bertrand a new contract will be no different than the shane long contract( player signs for 2 years yet his usefulness has ended). Ings was so selfish, the goal drought has affected him mentally. No service to Che & Ings. Djenepo essentially was wingback which limited him, Would like to see the bernado Silva role in him. Wardprowse has been poor the last month or so but the Everton game he really stepped up, would like to see more of him with the ball on his feet breaking the press and running towards opposition defenders. Armstrong is no deep lying CDM his best position is between opposition defence and mid. Our first shot on target was vestergaard in the latter stages of the game. The loss in this game I would attribute it to tactics. Ralph was to blame for the loss, he didn't do anything that could affect the scoreline while we were losing, he brought watts in the 88 mins what was he expecting to salvage? How was Jankewitz allowed to start against #MUFC while he couldn't get a minute in this game? Djenepo throwing to bednarek and he clears it to opposition team which allows them to come to us again! Which tactic is that. Next season we need RCB(sell Stephens, bednarek becomes fourth choice) GK( we need a younger gk who is good on his feet) 2CDM/CM ( wardprowse game suffers while he plays for long stretches without a break. Sell Redmond, Bertrand Stephens, 1Gk, long, don't buy Walcott or minamino. This squad is so lean we need a new whole team of buys

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Nomaesaints added 12:28 - Mar 3 Can anyone tell me why Danny Ings is dragged back to the six yard line when we are defending corners? The ball is cleared and we have nobody up front to challenge the opponents and then they have the run of the pitch to do what they want with the ball. Surely one of the front two should be kept up front to occupy one and maybe two possible attackers? I was watching Adams during the game and I don't think he has any positional knowhow. He tries hard thats all I can say. During one of the free kicks that Everton got he double marked an Everton player and left TWO players unmarked behind him. He knew they were there as he looked around and saw them.

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Saintaxidriver added 16:48 - Mar 3 There are 2 main issues as far as I can see 1) We just don't have the depth of squad needed at this level and if we are going to loan out players we should have some sort of clause to recall them if needed. I suspect that the financial situation is worse than we are being led to believe. 2) I still support Ralph and want him to continue as our manager even if we go down but I have always felt his decisions over positions and substitutions to be a little confusing and illogical going back to his treatment of Danso and continuing to the present day. Bednarek is not a right back and that was clear 2 games ago so why keep playing him there. With KWP and Diallo hopefully back on saturday if fit I would play Dnepro at RB because he has pace and his spidery legs make him difficult to get past.

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bornonthemiltonroad added 17:37 - Mar 3 I’ve never seen a team give the ball away as much as Saints did against Everton and one player more than any other......Redmond. Shocking! He should be ashamed but he seems to find every mistake he makes amusing, or that he’s had such bag luck and can’t believe it, is neither, he’s just so very poor. We may as well be playing with ten men and it’s infuriating, one because he’s so bad, and has been for ages, and two, Ralph keeps picking him.

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Braveheart added 12:57 - Mar 5 The so called tactics and the science put in to our games by Ralph are rarely much good. Reality bites; we should take notice of the fact that we do not have one class premiership player in our squad. That combined with allowing back up players out on loan with no call back option will be our downfall come the end of the season I fear. Just look at the top scorer tally of other players in the top clubs. Ings isn't a game changer, he is always behind the pace. with very few goals in him. Che Adams was scoring goals for Birmingham without opening his eyes or drawing breath. How many has he scored in the two seasons he has been here? I am fast losing faith in Ralph and are beginning to wonder if he has the dressing room. When has any other manager survived two 9-0 defeats 8 consecutive losses 1 point from a possible 24. Alex Ferguson was sacked from Aberdeen for far less. Time for yet another change and shake up people, and a look at at reality, I can only see us getting maybe 4 points from the next three games if we are lucky. We are no more than a mid table championship team at best. Is it any wonder why we struggle for survival year after year?

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