Charlie Austin struck an early goal to condemn Everton to a 1-0 defeat against Southampton.

The striker handed the hosts an early lead after just 43 seconds as Ronald Koeman endured an unhappy return to his former St Mary’s stomping ground.

Arguably Everton’s best move of the first half came when Idrissa Gueye blazed over from 12 yards following a Seamus Coleman pull-back.

Further chances were missed either side of the interval Gareth Barry headed over the crossbar while Coleman failed to capitalise in front of goal.

Here were the key talking points from the South Coast…

Blues lack creativity

 

With Kevin Mirallas, Gerard Deulofeu and Enner Valencia on the bench, Ronald Koeman’s game plan was to make sure the Blues kept compact and hard to break down.

But it was a poor call by the Everton manager as the team looked second best to an energetic Southampton.

Relying on link-up play between Yannick Bolassie, Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku might have been more successful if any of the trio had put in a convincing performance.

Certainly in the first 45 minutes both were too peripheral – and that was arguably the best period of play for all three – although they were by no means helped by the team’s profligacy in possession.

Deulofeu finally did make an appearance, just after the hour mark when he replaced the anonymous Aaron Lennon.

It was only in the last 10 minutes, by which time Deulofeu, Mirallas and Enner Valencia had been brought on that Everton began to show any real attacking intent.

Achilles’ heel still not rectified

 

Southampton found a huge amount a space in the zones between midfield and defence and, alarmingly for Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines, down the flanks.

Charlie Austin’s first minute goal came from Everton’s left flank, which was a pattern repeated throughout the game, as the excellent Cedric Soares found space to put in the first cross for debutante Josh Sims to link up with Austin.

Both Austin and Sims could’ve added to the tally, but for smart stops from Stekelenburg.

Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams look uncomfortable as a defensive partnership still, with both players looking to regain the type of form that has made their reputations.

January really can’t come soon enough

 

Despite what the more trigger-happy owners in the Premier League may think, five months is not long enough to judge how the manager is performing.

Whatever Koeman’s overall plan, it seems that it will take considerably longer than half a season to get across and implement the ideas and tactics that he’d like to see happening at Everton.

Four of his signings appeared here, and were at their the most convincing.

Top of the January shopping list for Everton must be a midfielder with more bite and fight, as well as someone who can play a pass to split defences.

Barkley, so often criticised for his inconsistency, was not the only guilty party, in a front line that offered no link with midfield.

Koeman now firmly under the microscope

 

The project that the Dutchman has now, compared to his remit at Southampton is very different.

The job at Southampton was about continuity, and he had all the tools at hand to carry on the good work laid down by his predecessor.

Koeman’s brief now is to rebuild a side that was shorn of confidence and ideas in Bobby Martinez’s final season at Goodison.

Rebuilding the Blues, and getting them playing the kind of football that Koeman wants, looks like a much bigger challenge than he might have first imagined.

With games coming up against Manchester United, Arsenal and a Merseyside derby clash the week before Christmas, Everton will need to rediscover their form very quickly.