Southampton 3 - Everton 0: Losing streak snapped

It's finally over.

The five game losing streak that has plagued the club in recent weeks is finally over as Southampton defeated Everton 3-0 at St. Mary's, courtesy of goals from Romelu Lukaku (own goal), Graziano Pellè, and Maya Yoshida.

Ronald Koeman made several changes due to the absences of several first-team members. Yoshida, Pellè, Toby Alderweireld, Steven Davis, and Harrison Reed was named in the starting XI in place of Florin Gardos, Victor Wanyama, Morgan Schneiderlin (all suspended), while Matt Targett and Sadio Mané drops to the bench.

Southampton started the match positively and nearly got the opening goal just after the first 10 minutes as Pellè rose highest to head the ball, but his header was over the bar.

Fraser Forster was then called into action in the 23rd minute but Ross Barkley's strike from outside the box did not trouble the England international.

Just after the half-hour mark, Pellè had the ball in the net but the whistle was already blown as Shane Long had fouled Phi Jagielka.

Five minutes later, the host should've had a penalty.

Long came from behind the unsuspecting Jagielka to chase a loose ball, the latter then committed a wild hack that brought the former down but instead the referee points for a corner kick.

Turns out it was just a matter of time.

From the resulting corner, James Ward-Prowse's delivery was headed home past Tim Howard by Lukaku, who was under pressure from José Fonte, with many thinking that The Saints skipper had opened the scoring, but replay proved otherwise.

Three minutes later, the host could have took a two-goal cushion into the halftime as Pellè hits the side-netting following good work from Long and Ryan Bertrand.

The first half ends with the score 1-0 for Koeman's men and they were clearly the better side. Now the question is, can they grabbed the all important second goal?

Seven minutes after the restart, that elusive second goal nearly came as Pellè headed from a corner to the far post, but Samuel Eto'o was on hand to make the headed clearance.

The Italian looked like scoring but was made to wait until the 65th minute to finally give Southampton that crucial second goal. Long whipped in a cross and Pellè was the quickest to pounce and prodded home from close range.

Everton was shell-shocked and nearly conceded a third when Fonte gets his head to Ward-Prowse's free-kick but Howard managed to make the save.

Forster was called into action once more in the 78th minute as he made a good save from Lukaku's fierce shot. But it was the host who scored again four minutes later. Davis sent a cross with his outside foot and Yoshida headed the ball past Howard with his shoulder to make it 3-0.

There was one last chance for the visitors in injury time, but Barkley's effort was saved by Forster's leg and the rebound was put over the bar to cap off a miserable outing for Everton.

But for The Saints, it was a great afternoon, as the team responded positively from recent week's adversity as they hope to build from this win heading into the busy holiday fixtures.