Southampton 1-0 Everton: Ronald Koeman suffers defeat on return to St Mary's

Ronald Koeman endured an unhappy return to St Mary’s as Southampton beat Everton 1-0 on Super Sunday.

It took just 41 seconds for Southampton to take the lead as debutant Josh Sims crossed for Charlie Austin to head home from point-blank range.

And it proved to be the only goal of the game as Southampton, who spurned a number of second-half chances, held on to end a run of four league games without a win.

Victory moves Southampton into 10th and just two points behind Everton, who have won just one of their last eight league games, in seventh.

Southampton manager Claude Puel made seven changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday and he handed the 19-year-old Sims his full first-team debut.

Koeman, who managed Southampton for two years, recalled Gareth Barry in place of James McCarthy but his return to St Mary's started in the worst possible fashion.

Sims was involved for the hosts, having an early shot blocked by Ashley Williams before a cross into the box fell at his feet and he lifted the ball onto the head of Austin, who headed home from close range to score his ninth goal of the season.

Southampton - and Sims - were brimming with confidence and in the 16th minute the debutant found himself unmarked in the box, but his header was tame and straight at Maarten Stekelenburg.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg lined up another effort for the hosts four minutes later but he fired the ball high over the crossbar and into the stands.

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Stekelenburg then collected Austin's weak effort before Everton created their first real opening, but Idrissa Gueye's shot flew over the crossbar after the midfielder was picked out by Seamus Coleman's cut-back.

Everton had one final chance before the break as Gareth Barry won the ball from Sims before releasing Yannick Bolasie. The winger sent an early cross into the penalty area which was met by Ross Barkley, but his header flashed wide of the post.

In a similar pattern to the start of the first half, Southampton were better of the two sides after the break with Hojbjerg showing great footwork in the penalty area before smashing his effort against the outside of the post.

Everton responded though with Aaron Lennon playing a clever one-two with Bolasie, who rifled a fierce effort narrowly wide of Fraser Forster's goal.

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The game was becoming stretched and in the 57th minute Cedric whipped an excellent cross into the box and Austin rose above everyone but his bullet header was clawed away by Stekelenburg.

Koeman threw on Gerard Deulofeu for Lennon and Kevin Mirallas for Barkley as the visitors chased an equaliser but it was Southampton who nearly extended their advantage.

In the 76th minute Sims' fired a low effort across goal before James Ward-Prowse shot wide after being picked out by Austin.

Ward-Prowse was involved again minutes later after being picked out by a brilliant cross from Cedric, but the midfielder's strike was palmed away by the goalkeeper.

Sims was substituted six minutes from time, leaving the field to a standing ovation and he faced an anxious few minutes on the bench as Southampton looked to hold on.

Coleman had a shot blocked while Mirallas pulled an effort wide as Everton made one final push for a point, but the hosts held on to get one over on their former boss.

Player ratings

Southampton: Forster (6), Cedric (7), Fonte (7), van Dijk (7), Bertrand (7), Hojbjerg (7), Romeu (8), Ward-Prowse (7), Redmond (7), Austin (8), Sims (9).

Subs used: Clasie (6), McQueen (6), Long (n/a).

Everton: Stekelenburg (8), Coleman (7), Jagielka (6), Ashley Williams (6), Baines (6), Gana (6), Barry (6), Lennon (6), Barkley (6), Bolasie (5), Lukaku (6).

Subs used: Deulofeu (6), Mirallas (6), Valencia (n/a).

Man of the match: Josh Sims