Phillips: Glenn an inspiration for me
BRAZILIAN DOWNS SAINTS AND LIFTS EVERTON CLOSE TO TOP-FOUR SPOT
FORMER England striker Kevin Phillips has credited Glenn Roeder for setting him on the path to a successful career.
Roeder, the former West Ham, Newcastle and Watford manager, died on Sunday aged 65.
Phillips was signed for Watford from non-league Baldock Town by Roeder and went on to make 263 Premier League appearances, score 92 goals and win eight England caps.
‘If it wasn’t for Glenn I wouldn’t have had the career I did,’ Phillips said. ‘He gave me the opportunity and the chance to live my dream and so I will be forever grateful. He was a big inspiration for me.’
Ex-England goalkeeper David James, a teammate of Roeder’s at Watford who played under him at West Ham, said: ‘He was a wonderful, wonderful man. He was funny at times, serious at others and knew how to get that mix right. He was a wonderful human being.’
EVERTON’S bid to gatecrash the top four remains alive following a 1-0 Premier League victory over freefalling Southampton at Goodison Park last night.
A single goal from Richarlison – his 11th of the season – ensured Carlo Ancelotti’s side moved back level on points with sixth-placed Liverpool, behind the reigning champions only on goal difference and with a game in hand.
But for the injury-hit Saints it was a ninth league game without a win, a dismal run which has seen them take just one point.
Visiting boss Ralph Hasenhuttl gave Fraser Forster a rare start in goal but he was picking the ball out of his net after just nine minutes.
Gylfi Sigurdsson’s pass set Richarlison away and the Brazil striker rounded Forster before slotting home for the third successive match.
The Toffees thought they had a second goal on 25 minutes when Mason Holgate headed Sigurdsson’s free-kick back across goal for Michael Keane to nod in but it was ruled out by VAR as Holgate had strayed offside.
Southampton did not manage a shot on target until the final minute when Jordan Pickford superbly denied Jannik Vestergaard from close range.
Now after back-to-back wins, Everton sit two points behind fourth-placed West Ham as they eye Europe.