Saints made one change for the game against the Toffee's, but what didn't change was the spirit of the performance as we weathered the early storm to put in a clinical display and once again make it Fortress St Mary's.
It is hard to believe that only a couple of months ago or so some were questioning Ralph Hasenhuttl and predicting that we would be dragged into a relegation dogfight, but since those days suddenly we have clicked and now sit 10th in the table and looking up the table and not down it.
Everton came with hope that they could continue the form shown in their win against Leeds United last week, they were out of the blocks from the kick off and for the first 10 minutes we looked out of sorts and disorganised, but we held firm and got a grip of the game that we never lost, the visitors ended the game without a shot on target.
Once again it was a solid team performance, starting with Fraser Forster in goal, the control that Mohammed Salisu & Jan Bednarek in the centre, the dominance of Kyle Walker Peters & Tino Livramento on the flanks, the way that James Ward Prowse & Oriol Romeu ruled the centre of the park, Moi Elyounoussi & Stuart Armstrong surging at the Everton back four and the strength of Armando Broja & the guile of Che Adams up front, it was a complete performance.
Earlier in the season we might well have given this game away and conceded an equaliser, but not now, if Everton thought they might get a late chance as we went into the final 15 minutes and snatch a draw they were to be disappointed and the arrival of Shane Long quickly followed by his first Premier league goal for two years made sure it was a complete victory that would not be torn from our grasp.
The opening goal was typical Saints of late, we pressed quickly won the ball and worked it to Stuart Armstrong who curled in a shot into the bottom corner.
Everton were poor, they have the players, but they didn't have our team spirit and this is what has carried us through the last few months and hopefully will continue on.
After 3 tough games this fixture was the first of a run of games against teams below us, a chance to now move up the table and we took it and with Brighton's shock defeat at home to Burnley, we are now withing a point of them and on a roll.
That result from the Amex must have sent shock waves to the Everton hordes streaming out with 6 minutes to go after Shane Long had leapt like a salmon to head home with his first touch after coming on a minute earlier.
This emphasised how much Saints have built their foundations over the past year, many have questioned the role of Shane Long this season, throwing phrases around such as "Stealing a wage" they do so without realising what Long brings to the squad, in modern football every member of your squad doesn't have to be able to play every game for 90 minutes, earlier in the season we conceded too many late goals, Long's job has been to come on in the dying stages, hold the ball up, win free kicks and fresh legs to defend from the front, it was a bonus in this game that he should score so quickly, but it was pleasing to see that goal as he truly deserved it for his service to the club and the job he now does.
This win made it 5 games unbeaten in all competitions and indeed only 1 defeat in our last 9 Premier League games, during that time we have have created a gap between us and the bottom half of the table and closed the gap between those in the top 9.
We can now look to try and move up a place next weekend, getting up further will be tough, the gap is big, but all we can do is pick up points and keep going.
For us this result saw us move close to our first task of the season and for us and all but a handful of teams in the Premier League that is avoiding relegation, that is nearly guaranteed and now we move on to the next task and that is our first top 10 finish in 5 years.
For Everton it leaves them looking over their shoulders, with Watford beating Villa it showed that the bottom 3 are not done and dusted, perhaps there is going to be a shock as a big club gets dragged down, could it be Leeds, could it be Newcastle still, could it even be Brentford who seem to be in freefall, or could it be Everton, Frank Lampard does not seem to have galvanised them as he perhaps should have done, worrying times for the Toffee's
But for Saints fans the good times were back at St Mary's yesterday, the feel good factor is there, we are all kicking in the right direction and that can only be a good thing.