Everton 1-2 Southampton: The Saints hold on to vital victory in relegation clash

Southampton's inspirational captain James Ward-Prowse scored a brilliant brace to confirm Everton's worst run at Goodison Park since 1958 and leave both clubs joint-bottom of the table.

Everton, whose directors stayed away amidst fears for their safety from disgruntled fans, took a first-half lead through Amadou Onana's first goal for the club.

But Ward-Prowse levelled soon after the restart and then curled in a trademark free-kick to provoke a cacophony of boos and protests from home fans at full-time and leave Frank Lampard's job hanging by a thread.

It was the first time Everton have lost four consecutive league games at home for 65 years -with chants of 'Sack the Board' coming from all four corners of the ground - while Saints ended a six-game losing streak with their success with Nathan Jones first league win as manager following up two cup successes in the last week.

With both teams in the bottom three and on bad runs, substance was always going to be more important than style at Goodison.

The absence of Everton's board members following threats against them summed up the toxic mood at the Merseyside club. Before kick-off, a number of banners were on display with slogans aimed at chairman Bill Kenwright and owner Farhad Moshiri.

Frank Lampard couldn't afford any distractions particularly as last-placed Southampton had been lifted by a midweek EFL Cup win against Manchester City.

Centre-forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin was fit to return and there was a welcome bonus of seeing Alex Iwobi who was carried off on a stretcher at Old Trafford eight days ago.

Southampton's Romeo Lavia got into the spirit with an early foul on Amadou Onana that brought a yellow card. And Everton, with the fans forgetting their boardroom discontent to rally behind the team, were nearly rewarded when Demarai Gray flashed a shot wide.

Saints took time to hit their strides but Everton looked nervy when they ventured forward. From a James Ward-Prowse corner, Jordan Pickford elected to punch away a Mohammed Salisu header that was goalbound with considerable power. Mohamed Elyounoussi also had a shot deflected wide.

Everton needed a relaxant and it arrived after 39 minutes. Gray's outswinging corner sailed over Salisu and Onana timed his jump perfectly to connect with a downward header that bounced once and past goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.

It was Onana's first goal for the club following a £34million move from Lille and he kissed the Everton badge with due delight while Lampard gave his corner-taker a hug.

The mood lifted instantly and Iwobi almost made it 2-0 with a stinging shot that just eluded the far post.

Then with virtually the last kick of the opening 45 minutes, Southampton almost had the Evertonians crying into their half-time cuppa.

Samuel Edozie broke down the left and clipped a pass infield to Ward-Prowse was struck first-time and heading towards the bottom corner until Pickford got his despairing fingertips to divert onto the post.

Everton didn't heed the warning and Saints did level in the opening minute of the restart. A routine long ball was nodded down too easily by Che Adams and Ward-Prowse seized on the rebound.

With a neat twist by the Southampton captain, his marker Godfrey fell over and the midfielder had a simple task to beat Pickford from eight yards.

The Everton faithful tried to stay behind their team though the mood had become more subdued. That nearly changed after 56 minutes when Calvert-Lewin's shot looped up after deflecting off Salisu and hit the underside of the crossbar.

Referee John Brooks looked at his watch but it didn't bleep to signal it had crossed the line.

Southampton threw on January signing Carlos Alcaraz for his debut after an hour with Lampard responded by throwing on local hero Anthony Gordon – Coleman making way as Everton reverted to a back-four to seek a winner.

Leading the charge was 21-year-old Onana whose surging run through midfield earned Ibrahima Diallo a booking.

But instead of Everton scoring next, it was Southampton again through their magician Ward-Prowse.

Gray lost the ball to Adams in Southampton's half and from a swift breakaway Gordon bundled over the Scotland international.

Free-kick specialist Ward-Prowse lived up to his reputation by bending his shot over the wall so it dropped into the near-post corner before Pickford had even moved. It was his 16th free-kick in the Premier League, putting him second in the all-time list two behind David Beckham.

Everton tried to rally but the closest they came to an equaliser came from a blocked James Tarkowski shot in injury-time while Lampard stood arms outstretched after Gordon went down in the box appealing for a penalty.