Everton suffered a huge blow in their quest for a Champions League place after a pair of own-goals saw them lose 2-0 to Southampton at St Mary’s yesterday.
The loss meant Everton remain a point behind Arsenal, who currently occupy the fourth and final Champions League spot on offer to Premier League clubs, ahead of Arsenal’s match at home against Newcastle tomorrow.
Everton, whose 2-0 victory over Manchester United last week led to their former manager David Moyes’ sacking by the English champions, were behind as early as the first minute courtesy of a bizarre own-goal. Antolin Alacaraz got in front of the player he was marking to somehow head a cross from Southampton’s Rickie Lambert past goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Photo: Reuters
The visitors fell further behind on the south coast shortly after the half-hour mark when Seamus Coleman, perhaps distracted by John Stones, diverted Nathaniel Clyne’s cross beyond Howard.
Victory saw the Saints remain eighth on the table.
Yesterday’s other English top-flight fixtures were to see Ryan Giggs in control for his first match as interim player-manager of Manchester United when the seventh-placed side face Norwich, who are just above the relegation zone, at Old Trafford.
Elsewhere, second-bottom Fulham were to play at home against Hull, Stoke were up against Tottenham, Swansea were to face Aston Villa and West Brom, who are still not certain of top-flight survival, were to welcome West Ham to The Hawthorns.
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