Supersub Enner sinks the Saints
Koeman’s masterplan sees Valencia turn game
GIVEN all the talk of January signings at Goodison Park , substitute Enner Valencia’s first goal for the club and game-changing contribution couldn’t have been better timed.
The Ecuador forward hadn’t scored in 11 previous appearances for Everton, having joined on a season-long loan from West Ham United in August.
But the forgotten man took centre stage once he was brought on after an hour yesterday, transforming a contest that seemed to be heading for a goalless draw.
Valencia’s pace and movement instantly roused a previously muted Gwladys Street End and in the 73rd minute he reacted quickest to score from close range after Romelu Lukaku had been denied by Fraser Forster. It was his first club goal anywhere since last January and eight minutes later he won the penalty which sealed the points. Shielding a pass from Kevin Mirallas, Valencia enticed Maya Yoshida to drag him down, giving Leighton Baines the opportunity to fire home from the spot. Lukaku added a late third to give the final scoreline an unfair sheen.
‘We needed something different when Enner came on and I thought he caused Southampton difficulties with his pace,’ said Everton boss Ronald Koeman, who was facing his former club. ‘I’ve not been happy with the support for Romelu from midfield in the last few weeks.
‘I decided to keep Valencia back until the last part of the game when he might be able to make a difference, and he did.’
Everton are expected to be one of the busier clubs in the transfer window this month with Koeman wanting more additions to follow the imminent £10million signing of Charlton’s 19- year- old winger Ademola Lookman.
‘The board might be busy, yes,’ smiled the Dutchman, who has been linked with Napoli’s Belgium forward Dries Mertens. Valencia, who cost West Ham £12m in 2014, therefore has a fight on to be part of Everton’s long-term plans.
‘ It is too early to make the final decision on his future,’ said Koeman. ‘He is a good attacking option though because he can play in different positions and gives you a chance to change systems.’
Everton had an extra day’s rest compared to Southampton, but for the first hour the visitors were the better team. Nathan Redmond and Jay Rodriguez were denied by Joel Robles and Rodriguez also had a goal disallowed for handball.
But if this was a battle of the Premier League’s ‘best of the rest’, the top six don’t have a lot to worry about. The rhythm of the game was affected by two enforced early changes, Southampton’s Cedric Soares for a bang on the head after colliding with an advertising hoarding and Everton’s 19-year-old Dominic Calvert-Lewin with an ankle knock.
With Goodison groaning and Ross Barkley struggling, Koeman finally decided it was time for a change, with the ineffective Aaron Lennon making way for Valencia.
Right away, Lukaku looked a different proposition with some support, going on a barn-storming run that raised the temperature even if his final shot was dragged wide.
Lukaku then initiated the move that led to the breakthrough by releasing Seamus Coleman down the right. The full back crossed back to the Belgian, whose header struck Forster’s legs before the ball rebounded off Lukaku’s knee, and Valencia anticipated superbly to fire in from a couple of yards. Lukaku wanted to take the penalty after the foul on Valencia but Baines took responsibility and scored. ‘Leighton is first on the list,’ said Koeman. ‘He has been scoring penalties all his life.’
But with Southampton a tired and broken team, Lukaku did get his goal in the final minute. Everton’s 18-year- old midfielder Tom Davies capped an impressive display with a pass to the centre forward, who struck the ball with might into the roof of the net.
Southampton boss Claude Puel cut a dejected figure as he contemplated a third consecutive defeat.
‘Every team has been clinical against us and that is difficult,’ said Puel. ‘We played a courageous game so it is difficult to accept the final result. It is a lot to take. We are unlucky at this moment. We have played so many games this season.’