For Ronald Koeman it was the return to Southampton he probably expected but that did not make it any easier to bear. After hearing some less than -kind words from the home ranks the Dutchman had to watch on as his new side were deservedly beaten by his old one. The Everton manager could not hide his anger afterwards and may well now be wondering if he made the right decision swapping the south coast for Merseyside after all.
The goal that decided this contest came early – after 41 seconds, in fact – and the truth is Everton never really recovered. As against Swansea City last week their approach play was sluggish and limited for large periods but the difference this time was that they could not muster an equaliser. The visitors had only one shot on target and it came as little surprise to see many of their supporters heading for the exits long before the final whistle had blown.
In contrast Southampton’s fans were buoyant until the end, albeit after they had got some ill-feeling off their chests. “We fucking hate you, Ronald Koeman” was among the chants delivered by the majority of those located in the Northam Stand on seeing the man in question’s emergence from the tunnel before kick-off; his decision to leave Southampton in the summer is clearly not forgotten or forgiven in these parts.
Some would deem that ungrateful given the 53-year-old led the club to sixth- and seventh-place finishes, their best in the Premier League, in his two seasons at the club but from the recipient came no disgust.
“Everyone is free to give the reaction they want,” Koeman said. “I know how the players of Southampton react to me and I know the staff of Southampton appreciate what we did together. The rest is football. That’s life.”
The abuse looked set to continue only for Charlie Austin to change the mood completely and before the majority in attendance were comfortable in their seats. Southampton started with a bang and, after Everton had failed to clear Cédric’s right-wing cross, the striker secured his ninth goal of the season with a close‑range header. Cue jubilation in the Northam Stand and elsewhere.
A key figure in the goal was the 19‑year‑old winger Josh Sims, who was handed a surprise debut by Claude Puel having impressed for Southampton’s under-23 side, and the teenager repaid his manager’s faith with a display that brimmed with menace.
It was Sims’s long‑range shot that caused Everton’s defence initially to panic in the buildup to the goal and from the same player came the assist, a clever and quick scooped pass to Austin after Cédric’s delivery had bounced off Séamus Coleman.
From there Sims continued to torment those in blue from an advanced right-sided position and he almost produced the moment of the match midway through the second half after driving past Leighton Baines and Ashley Williams only to mess up at the crucial stage by playing a poor square pass that was easily cut out by Idrissa Gueye.
Nevertheless it was a hugely encouraging debut from the latest member of Southampton’s much-vaunted academy and Sims was rightly awarded a standing ovation from the home spectators after being replaced by another youth product, Sam McQueen, on 84 minutes.
“For a first game in the Premier League it was very good,” Puel said. “It was not a risk to start him as I have seen very good things from him in training sessions and with the under-23s.”
Others in red and white also impressed, no one more so than Virgil van Dijk, who continues to look one of the most complete defenders in the country. Puel suggested the only disappointment for Southampton was that they did not get the second goal that their display of great togetherness and intent deserved.
James Ward-Prowse failed with a couple of presentable chances late on while a powerful header from Austin on 58 minutes was kept out only by Maarten Stekelenburg’s impressive low save.
The hosts’ first league win since mid‑October moves them up to 10th, three places and two points off Everton, who showed more urgency in the second half but generally posed little threat, with Gareth Barry’s late volley the one time Fraser Forster was called into action.
It is now one win in eight games for a side who began the season with grand ambitions. “I’m not worried about results, I’m worried about what I see on the pitch,” said Koeman, who later claimed he “wasn’t aware” of Sims during his time at Southampton.
“We are starting games badly and have difficulties being organised defensively. We have to do more.”
