Full Time: Everton 1-1 Southampton
This game was absolutely titanic in the relegation struggle for Southampton and it was going absolutely brilliantly until the 96th minute of stoppage time when a disaster of a goal ended their hopes.
Southampton played well until Maya Yoshida got himself sent off for a second yellow card in the 85th minute. It was all backs to the wall then, to try and keep Everton out. Unfortunately, it was not enough and Everton equalised with a massive slice of luck two minutes after the allocated extra time was up. An incredibly deflating day at Goodison Park if you were a Southampton fan.
Southampton Player Ratings
Alex McCarthy – 7/10
The Southampton goalkeeper kept his side in the tie on a couple of occasions and will be devastated to have lost his clean sheet right at the death.
Wesley Hoedt – 7/10
The centre-back had a good game and won a lot of his aerial challenges. He was also tasked with the job of stepping out of defence on a couple of occasions and did it well.
Maya Yoshida – 4/10
Yoshida has to take a long hard look at himself. Both of the yellow cards he received were avoidable and you have to wonder if they’d have conceded the goal had he remained on the pitch. We’ll never know.
Jan Bednarek – 6/10
Didn’t have the best of games and didn’t make a single successful tackle. Could have been a lot more solid in that back line.
Cedric Soares – 7/10
Had a good game down the right-hand side, tackled well and also got forward to offer Southampton some width. Got a good assist for his team as well.
Ryan Bertrand – 5.5/10
Bertrand has not had the best of seasons for Southampton and it continued yesterday with him making the error that ultimately led to the goal.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 7.5/10
Played well in the middle of the park, broke up Everton’s play with his excellent tackling and enabled his team to break quickly on the counter.
Oriol Romeu– 6.5/10
The defensive midfielder did not have the best of games and could’ve done better for his team. He also got a silly yellow card.
Dusan Tadic – 6/10
Has looked a little off-colour all season and continued his form. Didn’t get on the ball enough and didn’t create anything for his team.
Mario Lemina – 7/10
Looked quality on the ball and always bothered the defenders when running at them. Has a lot of skill and vision.
Charlie Austin – 6/10
Just didn’t look that dangerous up top and could’ve done a lot better with the few chances that he managed to get.
Substitutes
Nathan Redmond – 8/10
Replaced Lemina in the 46th minute and was absolutely fantastic. When he is on his game, he looks a class above and he rightly got his name on the scoresheet. He does not deserve to be in a relegation battle.
James Ward-Prowse – 6/10
Came on to replace Tadic to add a little more depth to the Southampton midfield. Did alright but nothing really of note.
Shane Long – 6/10
Came on in the 76th minute to replace Austin and didn’t really do anything. Provided no more of a threat than Austin.