Football: First for Beagrie

Southampton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

Everton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

EVERTON'S summer did not bode well. There were the rumours of Howard Kendall's imminent departure, the sale of Peter Beardsley and the failure to buy a striker of aerial power, but on yesterday's evidence Kendall need not rush into the transfer market.

Tony Cottee, Mark Ward and Peter Beagrie, none of them tall, performed wonders as Southampton were outplayed. Beagrie's 10th-minute goal - a low, first- time, right-foot shot on the turn from the edge of the area - was the first of the season in the Premiership. By the time John Ebbrell tapped in the second after 44 minutes, following up Ian Andrews' save from Cottee, Beagrie could easily have had another and his team three or four.

Southampton, like Everton, tipped for relegation, never got going and lacked even their customary competitiveness. Matthew Le Tissier dazzled occasionally, but mostly to little effect. After 52 minutes, he whipped in a corner which Dave Watson cleared off the line, but Everton soon reasserted their fluent passing.

Southampton (4-4-2): I Andrews; J Kenna, R Hall, K Monkou, M Adams; M Le Tissier, G Cockerill, N Maddison, S Charlton (F Benali, 77 min); I Dowie, N Banger (Bennett, 77 min). Sub not used: N Hopper (gk) Manager: I Branfoot.

Everton (4-4-2): N Southall; P Holmes, D Watson, M Jackson, G Ablett; M Ward, I Snodin, J Ebbrell, P Beagrie; P Rideout, T Cottee. Subs not used: R Warzycha, S Barlow, J Kearton (gk). Manager: H Kendall.

Referee: K Cooper (Pontypridd).

Goals: Beagrie (0-1, 10 min); Ebbrell (0-2, 44 min).