Shane Long strikes to lift Southampton and add to listless Everton’s worries

Frank Lampard did not return to the dugout for a relegation scrap but Everton are firmly in danger after falling to an insipid defeat at Southampton. Stuart Armstrong struck before the substitute Shane Long sealed victory less than two minutes after stepping off the bench, heading in with his first touch to register his first Premier League goal in almost two years. Jordan Pickford, who ensured Everton went in at half-time with the score blank, had a face like thunder. Southampton, meanwhile, can start thinking about making a play for the European places.

For Everton, a wishy-washy performance was typified by the manner of Southampton’s opener seven minutes after the interval. Oriol Romeu, who has made light of his supposed shelf life in the centre of Southampton’s midfield this season, stole possession from the Everton substitute André Gomes and found Ché Adams, who shuffled the ball on. Armstrong took one touch to compose himself and coolly picked his spot, curling inside Pickford’s near post. Everton could not argue it hadn’t been coming and they had their goalkeeper to thank for preventing James Ward-Prowse and Tino Livramento, the former from a rasping free-kick, from scoring in the first half.

Lampard spent much of the first 45 minutes wandering around the dotted Everton technical area, shielding his eyes from the low sun and wave after wave of Southampton attacks. Ashley Cole, the Everton first-team coach, again assumed a more neutral position alongside the analysts in the press box. For the travelling Everton supporters, whose journey was hampered by Storm Eunice, it made for particularly underwhelming viewing. Richarlison and Alex Iwobi were often crowded out by a pack of red-and-white shirts, Romeu or