Southampton are held to a 1-1 draw by Everton at Goodison Park

After a cagey opening the match was virtually one-way traffic as Saints created chance after chance, twice hitting the woodwork, before Ramiro Funes Mori gave the Toffees a second half lead totally against the run of play.

Sadio Mane quickly equalised but it was frustration for Saints in their hunt for European football as they failed to get the three points they deserved, extending their run without a win at Goodison Park to 11 matches over a period of more than 18 years.

Everton didn’t start like a team low on confidence in front of their own fans, and almost created something out of nothing after four minutes when Fraser Forster spilled Bryan Oviedo’s right wing cross.

However, Saints were just about able to scramble it away and settle themselves down.

Despite the attacking line-up named by Koeman, Saints were obviously trying to keep it tight early on, almost dropping into a 4-1-4-1 out of possession, knowing the atmosphere at Goodison Park might turn a little if they could frustrate their hosts.

They almost scored an unlikely goal on ten minutes when Cuco Martina miscued a cross from the right wing. The ball went high and looked set to drop under the bar on its way down, forcing Joel Robles to take action and turn it over.

Victor Wanyama tried his luck from the edge of the box five minutes later but Robles was alert to the danger and got down to his right to make the save.

Jose Fonte was in the right place at the right time up the other end to stand firm in the area and block a well-timed volley from Kevin Mirallas after Gerard Deulofeu’s right wing cross.

Saints came agonisingly close to taking the lead on 20 minutes as Everton failed to clear the ball from their own area and Dusan Tadic produced a left footed volley on the turn that went just over the top.

Shane Long was the next to get a shooting chance just moments later but on the half volley from a tight angle he fired over.

Saints were getting on top and Tadic took advantage of Oviedo slipping on the ball on the right wing and pressed forward before drilling in a low near post shot but it was a fairly comfortable save for Robles.

Mirallas was complaining he was dragged down by Fonte when through on goal after intercepting a heavy touch from Wanyama on 29 minutes but nothing was given by referee Craig Pawson with the Saints man typically physical but also getting a firm foot to the ball.

Saints were forced into a change on 38 minutes as Fonte was replaced by Maya Yoshida in the heart of defence. Fonte had been down for some time after a taking a hefty whack in the back from Arouna Kone and, having tried to carry on, left the pitch with what appeared to be a head injury.

Mane’s pace forced a way through the Everton backline but he was off balance as he hit a shot and skewed it wide of the near post.

Daron Gibson became the first player in the book after hacking down Long as tried to burst through.

Ryan Bertrand stepped up to take the free kick 25 yards out to the right of centre and whipped it left footed over the wall. It appeared to be bending wide but Robles took no chances and dived to his left to turn it behind.

Saints came close again in first half stoppage time as Long got his head on Bertrand’s near post corner and flicked it past Robles. However, it struck the far post and bounced clear of the waiting Mane.

There was time for yet another Saints chance as they won another corner which fell to Virgil van Dijk 12 yards out but he shot just over the bar.

It had been a half Saints had largely controlled but at the break it was still goalless.

The second half started the same way the first had ended with Saints relentlessly attacking.

Tadic hit a fantastic curling left footed shot from just inside the area after cutting in from the right. It flicked off the head of Gibson and flew past the dive of Robles but struck the crossbar and bounced away.

Everton had to make a change on 54 minutes with Seamus Coleman seemingly having pulled his hamstring. He was replaced by Callum Connolly.

Fraser Forster had been a virtual spectator but actually had something approaching a save to make as Mirallas hit a free kick from 20 yards. However, it was straight at the keeper and a very easy take.

Both teams made a change on 64 minutes with Steven Davis coming on for Pelle and Long moving up front for Saints while Ross Barkley replaced Deulofeu for Everton.

Totally against the run of play Everton took the lead on 68 minutes.

An outswinging corner was headed goalwards by Ramiro Funes Mori. Long got a block in but the ball came back to the Everton defender whose drilled low shot appeared to take a slight deflection off of Bertrand and rocketed past Forster for 1-0.

Saints responded with an attacking change as Jay Rodriguez replaced Wanyama.

Saints got an equaliser they thoroughly deserved on 76 minutes as neat interplay between Long and Tadic on the right wing, and then a one-two in the area between the Serbian and Martina, ended with the ball breaking into the six yard box where Mane was on hand to stab home from close range.

The game was briefly halted by an Everton fan invading the pitch to remonstrate with his own side’s players before he was dragged off by security.

Rodriguez so nearly got on the end of a cut back and then forced a near post stop from Robles before Mane’s effort met the same fate as Saints continued to pile forward.

Everton brought on Tom Davies, who wasn’t born the last time Saints won at Goodison Park, for Gibson, and the youngster was able to see the game out as it ended in a draw.