The wait is finally over for Southampton. It had been 23 games – a run that stretched back to March 2023 – since they last tasted victory in the Premier League and Russell Martin must have been wondering how much longer Dragan Solak’s patience would last.

Southampton’s Serbian owner made a rare appearance here and had watched his team once again flatter to deceive until the game’s decisive moment arrived five minutes before full time. Everton substitute Beto had seen his header cannon off the crossbar before Southampton broke downfield and Adam Armstrong swept in Yuki Suguwara’s cross to send the home supporters into raptures.

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There was a nervous wait to see whether Beto’s goal moments later would stand, with the cheer that greeted VAR’s decision to overturn it for offside almost as loud as for Armstrong’s winning goal. But having been kept in it by a string of outstanding saves from Aaron Ramsdale, Southampton moved off the bottom of the table by ending Everton’s unbeaten run – much to the relief of their manager.

“It’s been a really tough period but they are an amazing group to work with and I love them and I love being here,” said Martin, who could not hide his delight at the final whistle as he celebrated with the home supporters.

“The players have been criticised so much for trying stuff when it doesn’t come off so hopefully they will get the credit and this can be the start of something for us.”

For Sean Dyche, it was a frustrating afternoon after Southampton’s Jan Bednarek survived a VAR check when he brought down Beto and VAR decided against overturning referee Andy Madley’s decision to show only a yellow card.

“I think that’s a massive decision in a game like this,” said the Everton manager. “I’m frustrated to lose because we didn’t take the chances we created.”

The draw against Fulham last week had made it five matches unbeaten – Everton’s longest run since Dyche was appointed – and unsurprisingly it was the visitors who looked full of confidence despite Southampton dominating possession for most of the first half but rarely looking a threat. An awful sliding challenge from James Tarkowski that left Cameron Archer writhing in agony got the home crowd out of their seats and earned the Everton defender a yellow card that could easily have been a different colour.

Ramsdale managed to keep his nerve when he came a long way out of his goal after a Southampton corner had been cleared and was almost tackled by Dominic Calvert-Lewin in what would have been a calamitous moment. Other than the energetic Idrissa Gueye – who was easy to spot because he was sporting white leggings on a mild autumnal day on the south coast – there was not much quality on display from either side.

That almost changed when a swift break downfield started by a lovely through ball from Flynn Downes ended with Archer placing his shot just wide of Jordan Pickford’s far post. The England goalkeeper was required to push away Armstrong’s cross from the feet of Archer before Taylor Harwood-Bellis headed wide for a corner as Southampton finally showed some attacking intent.

Adam Lallana was replaced by Joe Aribo for the second half and the change appeared to interrupt Southampton’s rhythm. Instead, it was Orel Mangala who almost broke the deadlock after he was set up by Ashley Young, with Ramsdale relieved to see the ball bounce just over the crossbar after making the save. Michael Keane became the second Everton central defender to be cautioned when he hauled down Archer, who then almost unwittingly provided Harwood-Bellis with an assist when the resulting free-kick hit him on the ankle but Tarkowski was able to make a crucial block.

The home crowd could sense Southampton were getting closer but they would have fallen behind had it not been for a remarkable save from Ramsdale to deny Keane from Vitalii Mykolenko’s cross. Somehow the ball stayed out after he pushed it on to the post and then rebounded back off Ramsdale on to the woodwork again, leading to a fist-pumping celebration from the former Arsenal goalkeeper.

Ramsdale again came to his side’s rescue by tipping Mykolenko’s free-kick around the post after Bednarek had brought down Beto. Jack Harrison had a great chance to win it late on before Armstrong stole the headlines to give Martin the victory he so desperately craved.