Fresh woe for Everton and David Unsworth as Southampton pile on pain

Has a caretaker manager even been sacked? Because David Unsworth must be on the brink, after Everton were walloped once more; they have conceded nine times since Thursday and are 16th in the table, while Southampton, who were excellent, move up to 10th courtesy of this 4-1 win.

The game started as it continued, with Southampton’s passing, movement and intensity far too much for Everton’s indolence - especially in wide areas. And eventually they took the lead, Dusan Tadic cleverly finishing a fine move in the 18th minute.

Southampton really ought to have increased their lead but could not, and just before half-time were pegged back when Gylfi Sigurdsson ripped a finish over Fraser Forster, against the bar, against the post, against the bar and in.

But he may as well not have bothered because the second half assumed a similar pattern to the first, Southampton dominating without resistance. On 52 and 58 minutes, Charlie Austin scored with fine near-post headers, and then just before the end, Steven Davis curled home a going home present. Essentially, Everton are a joke.

What on earth do Everton do? They can't get the manager they want, hardly anyone worth having and who'd have them is available, and the team can't stop getting thrashed. So, they can either stay with Unsworth and hope things improve; look for a caretaker until the end of the season; or go for a man they don't really want and hope he becomes one they do really want. Maybe Farhad Moshiri didn't delete Ronald Koeman's number...

Charlie Austin (Southampton) Plenty of contenders in red and white, but Austin, coming back from injury, didn't fret over two missed chances and instead finished two trickier ones consummately.

Southampton: Forster 6, Cedric 7, Van Dijk 6, Hoedt 6, Bertrand 7, David 6, Hojberg 6, Boufal 7, Ward-Prowse 7, Austin 8, Tadic 7. Subs: Long 6, Lemina 6, Yoshida 6.

Everton: Pickford 6, Kenny 5, Jagielka 4, Keane 4, Baines 6, Gueye 5, Schneiderlin 3, Mirallas 4, Sigurdsson 6, Lennon 4, Calvert-Lewin 5. Subs: Williams 5, Lookman 5, Vlasic 6.

18’ - GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Everton (Tadic) This is a lovely goal! Fine combination play in midfield, one-touch passing between Austin and David, sends Bertrand haring free at inside-left; he squares for Tadic, who holds off Baines as Pickford advances, and feathers a clever side-footer past him and into the far corner. No more than the home side deserve.

45’ - GOAL! Southampton 1-1 Everton (Sigurdsson) Ahahahahahaha! The fabled bit of luck, but with added brilliance! Everton string together a few passes, and Sigurdsson takes possession outside the box, right-hand side. He moves inside then Cruyff-turns back the way he came before unfurling a screeching curler which rinses over Forster, hits the bar, hits the post, hits the bar and drops in! What a goal! Oh, and that's his first for Everton.

52’ - GOAL! Southampton 2-1 Everton (Austin) This is another lovely goal. Boufal links with Bertrand down the left, lifting a return pass to him between two defenders. Close to the line, Bertrand then controls and allows the ball to drop before driving a flat cross to the front post, where Austin spanks a header in off that same attention-seeking bar. That was a far harder chance than the two that he missed in the first half.

58’ - GOAL! Southampton 3-1 Everton (Austin) Another lovely goal, but the defending here, oh dearie, dearie them. Tadic wins possession at inside-left and in the first instance no one mithers. Gueye then tackles, but the ball hits Tadic, runs ahead of him, and his nashes off in pursuit as the defence take a collective breather; it's been a hard life, after all. So when the cross comes in, Austin is alone, able to power-glance a downward header across a furious Pickford and in. This is over.

87’ - GOAL! Southampton 4-1 Everton (Davis) Oh my. Southampton have absolutely dematerialised Everton in wide areas, and again they come down the right, Ward-Prowse exchanging passes with Cedric and picking up a fine return on the line to cut back. Davis receives it on the edge of the box, still right of centre, and with defenders close by, stabs a sweep that hisses past Pickford into the far side-netting. Lovely goal again, but Everton are a joke.