Everton boss Ronald Koeman enjoyed a win over former club Southampton thanks to goals from Enner Valencia, Leighton Baines and Romelu Lukaku.
The match had lacked quality and chances until substitute Valencia scored his first goal for the club, driving in a shot from close range after Lukaku’s header had been saved.
He was also involved in the second goal as he won a penalty when he was fouled by Maya Yoshida.
Baines stepped up to score calmly from the spot before Lukaku latched on to a Tom Davies pass and smashed a shot into the top corner.
Everton stay seventh, while ninth-placed Southampton lost a third Premier League game in succession.
Valencia makes key contribution
This match was drifting towards goalless obscurity before the introduction of Valencia as a 61st-minute substitute.
The forward added an extra attacking dimension to Everton’s play as his pace combined with the support of Lukaku, who helped set up the opener.
Lukaku spread the ball wide to Seamus Coleman and got on the end of the right-back’s cross to send in a header which keeper Fraser Forster saved with his boot before Valencia converted the rebound.
After Valencia also had a hand in the second, Lukaku was rewarded for his tireless display with his 11th goal of the season.
The Belgium forward’s goal was created by Davies – and the 18-year-old midfielder’s display will be another bonus for Koeman, with Idrissa Gueye set to be absent as he goes to the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.
Hectic schedule tires Southampton
Southampton were playing their third match in six days – compared with Everton’s same number of outings in eight days – and they wilted after conceding the first goal.
Up until that moment, there had not been much between the sides and, had forward Nathan Redmond been more clinical, they could have taken the lead.
Redmond was in on goal after a clipped pass by Jay Rodriguez but, despite getting plenty of power on his shot, sent it too close to keeper Joel Robles, who beat the effort away.
“It is unfair,” said Saints boss Claude Puel, whose side came into the game on the back of defeats by Tottenham and West Brom. “It was a balanced game but the first goal was difficult to accept. Players were tired.
“They played two days ago and it was difficult to finish this game but the spirit and the attitude of the team was good.”
