Southampton’s first Premier League victory of the season could hardly have been better-timed, with the club’s lead investor, Dragan Solak, making a rare visit to St Mary’s.

Manager Russell Martin’s future would have looked exceptionally bleak if they had slipped up again, but the owner must have been impressed with the team’s performance and a first three-point haul of the campaign – at the 10th attempt – secured with Adam Armstrong’s goal five minutes from time.

“A big relief,” was Martin’s verdict. “It has been a tough period, but they are an amazing group to work with. I want to stay here as long as I can and this certainly helps. We had a few sticky moments but everyone stuck at it and I’m really proud.”

Everton made the better chances, hitting the bar through substitute Beto – before the hosts broke away to score – and forcing Aaron Ramsdale into a number of good saves. But they were curiously unambitious for long stretches against a team with only one previous point to its name, and they were lucky to finish the first half with 11 players after a reckless challenge by James Tarkowski on Cameron Archer.

Southampton’s adventurous football was seldom translated into big chances – they had only two shots on target – but they went close three times in the final five minutes of the first half, while it was 50 minutes before Ramsdale’s first save of note, from Orel Mangala.

The hosts’ goalkeeper’s next, after 66 minutes, diverted Michael Keane’s stooping header onto the foot of a post, and then he saved from Jesper Lindstrom’s curling free-kick after defender Jan Bednarek – who tasted victory for the first time in 23 Premier League starts – had survived VAR Matt Donohue’s look at his challenge on Beto when the Everton substitute was through on goal.

Ramsdale was powerless, though, when Beto headed Tarkowski’s volleyed cross against the bar, but the hosts broke from the rebound and Armstrong got away from his markers to direct Yukinari Sugawara’s low cross past Jordan Pickford.

Everton thought they had levelled four minutes later but VAR ruled – after three long minutes – that Beto had been offside before finally beating Ramsdale.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t end up with something,” Sean Dyche, the Everton manager, said. “I don’t think they opened up up too much. I’ve no problem with the offside, but I’m very, very surprised that [Bednarek] wasn’t sent off. It was a massive decision.”