Ramiro Funes Mori saw a second half goal cancelled out as an under-strength Everton side were held by Southampton.

The Argentine defender’s deflected 68th-minute strike gave the Blues a short-lived lead as Saido Mane took advantage of the hosts slack defending to level the game barely 10 minutes later.

Here were the main talking points from another insipid encounter at Goodison Park…

Martinez still failing to stem supporter unrest

 

Roberto Martinez was in desperate need of a change in momentum ahead of what could well be the defining week in his Goodison Park tenure.

Yet the Catalan failed to inject the urgency required to wake his side from their slumber in what was another disjointed performance from the Blues.

For long spells this felt like meaningless end-of-season fare between two sides with little to play for, with the overriding feeling of despondency and negativity around Goodison  indicative of the way in which Everton have under-performed in the Premier League this season.

The problem is that while, on this occasion, the personnel changed, there was no real difference in system. In truth, there very rarely is, and herein lies the problem.

This is now officially the worst points haul at Goodison in the club’s history. Everton have also gone six games without a win and have won just one of their last eight fixtures – damning statistics for a man who is now fighting for his future.

Blues’ supporting cast fails to deliver

 

With one eye on next week’s FA Cup semi-final, Martinez rested a number of first team regulars, including Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku and the result was a display that was largely devoid of purpose or inspiration.

Everton’s squad has been stretched to the limits in recent weeks, with the former Wigan manager forced to call up under-21 stars Tom Davies and Callum Connoll to cover for more established first team players.

But with a chance to stake a claim for next weekend’s showcase at Wembley, the Blues’ supporting cast of Bryan Oviedo, Gerard Deulofeu, Muhamed Besic and Arouna Kone ultimately failed to deliver.

Oviedo, deputising for the injured Leighton Baines, had a torrid time against Dusan Tadic. Besic, replacing the suspended James McCarthy, was regularly found wanting as Southampton’s powerful midfield overwhelmed the Blues.

Deulofeu, meanwhile, continued his erratic form with a series of runs down the blindest of alleys.

Hapless Kone exposes over-reliance on Lukaku

 

The display of lone front man Kone which was most telling of Everton’s shortcomings.

Admittedly hugely unfortunate with injuries since joining the Blues from Wigan back in 2013, the Ivorian again flattered to deceive here.

Those baffled by former Everton boss David Moyes’ assertion that managing an under-funded Everton side against a nouveau riche Manchester City was like ‘taking a knife to a gunfight,’ may now have an idea what he was on about after watching Kone spend the afternoon chasing shadows.

The £5 million signing from Martinez’s former club toiled against Virgil van Dijk and Jose Fonte and was unable to hold bring others into the game with any real regularity.

The low point for the forward was a comical attempt at an overhead kick when it seemed easier to cushion the ball on his chest in the box. Kone, who missed his kick, bringing jeers from the away fans, looked a pale imitation of Romelu Lukaku throughout.

If fit, Everton’s top scorer will now surely return to the side for next week’s crucial double-header.

Youth the only positives in insipid display

 

One positive for Everton fans was the encouraging displays of teenage debutants Callum Connolly and Tom Davies, who performed admirably in difficult circumstances.

Shortly after Southampton’s equaliser, one disgruntled fan invaded the Goodison Park pitch in an attempt to remonstrate with Leon Osman and Roberto Martinez, and the atmosphere turned even more toxic from there, with boos evident at full-time.

The young Blues pair, however, dealt with the situation like consummate professionals. Connolly, replacing the injured Seamus Coleman, looked assured against the tricky combination of Mane and Ryan Bertrand.

Davies, meanwhile, added an energy and composure to the Blues midfield that belied his tender years. One highlight was superbly timed tackle in the Blues box was followed by an exquisite turn to evade the closing Saints attackers.

They pair were the brightest sparks in an otherwise insipid Everton performance.