Everton do just enough

Everton 1 Southampton 0

It used to be ’1-0 to the Arsenal’ before the champions became a team of quality and style – now Everton have grabbed that mantle, and they certainly do not have style or quality just yet.

But they are sitting third in the table after another performance of effort, organisation and sheer toil had secured their fourth 1-0 Barclays Premiership victory of the campaign.

The goal came with two minutes left, when Leon Osman forced the ball home in a packed area for his third goal of the season.

Southampton, who arrived at Goodison Park minus nine first teamers, had got to the brink of a positive reward – only to be stung at the end.

Steve Wigley’s men mounted an impressive display of guts and running and passed the ball better than their opponents.

But Everton’s sheer doggedness forced them to victory on the day boss David Moyes received his manager of the month award.

Such presentations can be the kiss of death to managers, and it looked like being that way for a long spell until home-grown Osman kept this unlikely Everton success story on the road.

Moyes was able to field Tim Cahill in midfield after a fortnight of treatment on a knee injury, while Wigley’s plight worsened an hour before the game when defender Claus Lundekvam was ruled out by sickness.

It meant 18-year-old strikers Dexter Blackstock and Leon Best made their full debuts while former Norwich defender Darren Kenton came in for only his second game for the club.

Saints looked tentative early on and Finnish goalkeeper Antti Niemi had to make saves from Osman, twice, and Marcus Bent.

Southampton’s two young strikers were not fazed by the occasion and used their height and pace to good advantage.

Blackstock almost caught out David Weir with one surge into the box – while Neil McCann and Rory Delap hounded Everton out of their stride at times.

Blackstock threatened with a header before Delap shot from 20 yards as Everton struggled to put together enough passes to stretch their hard running opponents.

Everton needed to impose themselves more in possession but Bent and Kevin Kilbane wasted decent opportunities which would have deflated Southampton.

But instead they grew in confidence with Anders Svensson having a growing midfield influence for Southampton.

The major criticism of Everton is that their attacking outlet is only up to Bent, with a competitive midfield behind him.

But with Andreas Jakobsson marking the big man well, Everton were not able to build attacks around him.

Two minutes into the second half, Gravesen’s long ball forward was chased by the willing Bent, who forced his way between two defenders to clip the ball against the advancing Niemi.

Bent then appeared on the other side of the mass of bodies with the ball, but had been forced wide enough to see his shot hit the sidenetting.

A minute later Saints failed to clear a corner properly, and Bent was inside the six-yard box to see his goalbound shot hacked away by Delap.

Southampton took off young Best and sent on midfielder Paul Telfer, but with Svensson pushing forward to play just behind Blackstock.

But Everton got Bent clear in the box straight afterwards, and from another narrow angle belted his shot into the body of Niemi at the near post.

The Everton fans were calling for Duncan Ferguson’s introduction as Everton continued to search for the breakthrough.

Bent created a headed opportunity for Osman and then Gravesen forced his way into the box only to see his shot blocked by Jakobsson.

The Goodison fans got their wish on 76 minutes when Ferguson and James McFadden replaced Cahill and Kilbane – with an even more direct route clearly planned.

The game had deteriorated into a scrappy midfield battle with chances at a premium.

But when one finally came Everton’s way with two minutes left, Osman took it.

Gravesen launched a long throw into the box and Ferguson’s flick-on was missed by two defenders, allowing Osman to turn in the box and force a low shot wide of Niemi’s right hand.

Everton sent on Steve Watson for Bent before the restart, intent now on protecting their hard-won position.

It was cruel on Southampton, who had fought all the way and deserved more than to lose at the end.

But Everton’s reward for keeping going was a genuine foothold on a top-three spot.