Everton’s hopes of securing an European Champions League slot next season was dealt another blow at Southampton, courtesy of two first-half own goals.
Antolin Alcaraz headed home a Rickie Lambert awkward cross from the left-wing before Seamus Coleman headed another ball inside his own net; 2-0 it ended at the St. Mary’s Stadium.
The Toffees came into the match in the wake of their home win over Manchester United last weekend and were hoping to leapfrog Arsenal into fourth-place, with the ‘Gunners’ set for Monday night football.
They were unfortunately trailing the ‘Saints’ by two goals at the break and failed in all their plots to find a breakthrough in the second-half.
Romelu Lukaku wasted an incisive header and the visitors had two penalty appeals turned down by referee Michael Oliver.
Alcaraz, who was named in the team list by coach Roberto Martinez for the injured Sylvian Disitin, unfortunately gifted Southampton the lead inside a minute while trying to divert Lambert’s cross around the post for a corner.
Steven David almost added a second but his well-struck first-time effort went wide of goal after teaming up with Lambert.
Coleman doubled his own team’s deficit on 31 minutes when Nathaniel Clyne’s right-wing cross evaded both John Stones and Alcaraz only for the full-back to neatly place a header into the bottom corner of goal.
Everton’s clear-cut scoring chance in the first-half was blasted over the post by Lukaku.
The big Belgian striker then headed straight at goalkeeper Artur Boruc from close range in the second-half.
The hosts threatened to add a third in the closing stages and Lambert’s low free-kick late on clipped the post.
