It’s not sour grapes, but he should’ve been sent off says Sparky

lead with Hughes’ side forced to adopt a stop them at all costs policy. But it was the X-certificate intervention of Pickford in the 76th minute which had Hughes raging.

In racing out of his goal to clear from Ings, Hughes insists that the follow through which left the striker in a heap was committed with totally unnecessary force.

Hughes (right) said: “His studs were raised leaving Danny with five weals on his back. You saw the state of his shirt.

“I don’t think he needed to follow through like he did. The referee said he didn’t see it.

“It’s not sour grapes. I’m not trying to get the lad into trouble but he should have been sent off.” Instead it was Southampton who were adjudged to have taken a walk on the wild side collecting five bookings – while Hughes accused Everton’s players of going down too easily.

Silva had promised inspirational football to replace what many locals had contended was sterile stuff under his predecessor Sam Allardyce.

With £50million record buy Richarlison again amongst the goals following his double on the opening day of the season against Silva’s old club Watford, it should have been fun, fun, fun all the way for the home fans. But in the end they were willing the final whistle as Saints proved they can play football as well as dabbling in the dark arts. Silva said: “We deserved the three points. It was important to give our fans some enjoyment. Everything is different. “The players are doing a fantastic job to try to understand everything.” Everton’s Morgan